DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT TUESDAY – WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO CALL JESUS “Lord?” Part 1.

You must get involved to have an impact. No one is impressed with the won-lost record of the referee. - John H. Holcomb.

Why do you keep on saying that I am your Lord, when you refuse to do what I say? - Luke 6:46. (CEV)

A missionary society wrote to David Livingstone and asked, "Have you found a good road to where you are? If so, we want to know how to send other men to join you." Livingstone wrote back, "If you have men who will come only if they know there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all." - Good News Broadcaster.

In the late 1960's one of my favourite songs was... “My Sweet Lord” by George Harrison, and many people including me (I was not saved at this time,) seemed to think it might refer to Jesus. Of course it did not; it referred to the Hare Krishna a pagan faith. I have since learned that there are many “lords” and many “faiths.”

The use of the word “Lord” does not imply anything other than we are a spiritual people, and meaningless repetition of religious jargon cannot please God, yet a basis of our faith is the confession, “Jesus is Lord.”

God judges of the heart, not by words, but by works. A good servant never disputes, speaks little, and always follows his work. Such a servant a real Christian is: such is a faithful minister, always intent either on the work of his own salvation, or that of his neighbor; speaking more to God than to men; and to these as in the presence of God.

The tongue is fitly compared by one to a pump, which empties the heart, but neither fills nor cleanses it. The love of God is a hidden spring, which supplies the heart continually, and never permits it to be dry or unfruitful. - Quesnel. (E-SWORD BIBLE).

The Question I would like to ask is... “What should it mean to us to make that confession?” If we are serious about serving Christ, and determined to make Him Lord of our life, then...

“LORD” MUST TAKE ON MEANING.

What Did It Mean To Call Him Lord In The Old Testament? I, the LORD All-Powerful, have something to say to you priests. Children respect their fathers, and servants respect their masters. I am your father and your master, so why don't you respect me? You priests have insulted me, and now you ask, "How did we insult you?" - Mal 1:6.

There was no respect given to the Lord by His servants, they had insulted Him by not giving Him the respect that He deserved, and still they didn’t know what they had done. It is the same today, many of the people who attend His Church say that they follow the Lord, yet refuse to obey Him, and be committed to Him as their Lord, but still they don’t realise what they are doing wrong, and can’t understand why they are struggling with their faith.

Pliny the Elder, was a Roman writer who lived during the same time period as Jesus. He told a story of the setting of an obelisk, which when erect would stand 99 feet tall. Twenty thousand workers where chosen to pull on the ropes and activate the hoisting apparatus. There was great responsibility and risk in the operation. Just one error could cause the obelisk to fall, ruining years of work.

The King demanded one act which insured the complete attention and best direction of the engineer. He ordered the engineer's own son to be strapped to the apex of the obelisk, so that his heart as well as his head would be given to the task. - Pulpit Helps.

What Does It Mean To Call Him Lord In The Words Of Jesus? Not everyone who calls me their Lord will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only the ones who obey my Father in heaven will get in. On the day of judgment many will call me their Lord. They will say, "We preached in your name, and in your name we forced out demons and worked many miracles." But I will tell them, "I will have nothing to do with you! Get out of my sight, you evil people!" - Mat 7:21-23.

Jesus is saying that anybody who merely acknowledges His authority, or who takes for granted His divine nature, or who is self righteous, or who is doing things in His Name, by their own power, shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

This sounds very harsh, but if we do not fear Him, and give Him the obedience and respect that He deserves, then we have no right to eternal life with Him. We cannot expect blessing, if we merely acknowledge Him. We must repent of anything in our lives, which is not submitted to His Lordship.

When Julius Caesar landed on the shores of Britain with his Roman legions, he took a bold and decisive step to ensure the success of his military venture. Ordering his men to march to the edge of the Cliffs of Dover, he commanded them to look down at the water below.

To their amazement, they saw every ship in which they had crossed the channel engulfed in flames. Caesar had deliberately cut off any possibility of retreat. Now that his soldiers were unable to return to the continent, there was nothing left for them to do but to advance and conquer! And that is exactly what they did. - Source Unknown.

JESUS MUST BE THE LORD OF OUR LIVES, OR WE WILL SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR ACTIONS.

Loving Father, Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to make Jesus Lord of my life. I confess to anything in my life that will hinder this, and I ask you to forgive me, wash me and cleanse me in the precious blood of Jesus, that I may serve Him, and make Him Lord and Saviour of my life. In His wonderful Name, I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY