DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT WEDNESDAY – WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO CALL JESUS “Lord?” The Conclusion.

When the wife of missionary Adoniram Judson told him that a newspaper article likened him to some of the apostles, Judson replied, "I do not want to be like a Paul...or any mere man. I want to be like Christ...I want to follow Him only, copy His teachings, drink in His Spirit, and place my feet in His footprints...Oh, to be more like Christ!" - Source Unknown.

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

"It is not the importance of the thing, but the majesty of the Lawgiver, that is to be the standard of obedience... Some, indeed, might reckon such minute and arbitrary rules as these as trifling. But the principle involved in obedience or disobedience was none other than the same principle which was tried in Eden at the foot of the forbidden tree. It is really this: Is the Lord to be obeyed in all things whatsoever He commands? Is He a holy Lawgiver? Are His creatures bound to give implicit assent to His will?" - Andrew Bonar.

Yesterday in Part 1, we discussed that if Jesus is to be called Lord, then “Lord” must take on a new meaning for us. We saw in Malachi, that the servants of God did not respect the fact that He was the Lord Almighty, and by doing so insulted Him. Jesus said 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.

The Greek word for lord is indeed used in scripture in the sense of master, and as a mere honorary title as in the English Sir. But, on the other hand, it is the translation of Adonai, supreme Lord, an incommunicable name of God, and the substitute for Jehovah, a name the Jews would not pronounce.

It is in this sense that Christ is 'the Lord, the Lord of Lords, the Lord God'; Lord in that sense in which God alone can be Lord--having a dominion of which divine perfection is the only adequate or possible foundation. This is the reason why no one can call him Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. It is a confession which implies the apprehension of the glory of God as it shines in Him.

It is an acknowledgement that He is God manifested in the flesh. Blessed are all who make this acknowledgement with sincerity; for flesh and blood cannot reveal the truth therein confessed, but only the Father who is in heaven. - Charles Hodge.

We need to realise, that to make Jesus “Lord of all,” in our lives, we have to appreciate that obedience is central to calling Him Lord. Lordship involves obedience, and Jesus asked why we do not obey? Why do you keep on saying that I am your Lord, when you refuse to do what I say? - Luke 6:46. In saying all of this…

HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT TO OBEY?

First of all, the Bible must be our guide... I treasure your word above all else; it keeps me from sinning against you. - Ps 119:11. The word of God should dwell richly in our hearts, this will enable us to speak out against anything that is not of God. If we just read God’s word, and leave it in the Bible, then we will be opening ourselves up to all kinds of evil.

Secondly, obeying the word gives us a firm foundation... Obey God's message! Don't fool yourselves by just listening to it. If you hear the message and don't obey it, you are like people who stare at themselves in a mirror and forget what they look like as soon as they leave. - Jas 1:22-24.

Finally, ongoing obedience of the word is essential... Jesus told the people who had faith in him, "If you keep on obeying what I have said, you truly are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." - John 8:31-32.

It is not enough to receive God’s truth; we must put into practice what it says. It is only when we accept the truth, love it, keep it, and walk in it. And this will confirm that we are indeed, the indisputable Disciples of Christ.

Instant obedience is the only kind of obedience there is; delayed obedience is disobedience. Whoever strives to withdraw from obedience, withdraws from Grace. - Thomas a` Kempis.

To hear and act on what we hear is to build a solid foundation for life, to hear and not obey is to leave our lives founded on the shifting sands of the world's philosophies. Jesus' rebuke to those around Him applies today more than then, and we know more revelation, and have more to work with, than they did. Why do we call Him “Lord” and yet do not do what He commands?

Ye call Me Master and obey me not,
Ye call Me Light and see me not,
Ye call Me way and follow me not
Ye call Me Life and desire me not,
Ye call Me wise and acknowledge me not,
Ye call Me fair and love me not,
Ye call Me rich and ask me not,
Ye call Me eternal and seek me not,
Ye call Me gracious and trust me not,
Ye call Me Noble and serve me not,
Ye call Me mighty and honor me not,
Ye call Me just and fear me not,
If I condemn you, blame me not.
- Resource.

JESUS MUST BE THE LORD OF OUR LIVES, OR WE WILL PAY 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