Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Why Do You Call Him Lord?

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” (Luke 6:46-49 NIV)

It is a simple question intended for all of us who claim Jesus as our Lord.  If it is true what we say, that Jesus is our Lord, then why don’t we do what He tells us to do?  Most of us would likely answer it’s because we are sinners.  This is obviously true, but I think that is the easy answer and a means of protecting our pride.  Our tendency toward sin becomes an easy excuse, but ignores another truth.

A complete reading of the Scriptures reveals the Lord desires us to submit to Him and follow Him.  But it is our choice.  Despite what people often think, God is far from overbearing.  While He has the power to force us into submission, He chooses not to do so, at least until the end of time. He has given us a free will to follow Him or not.  It is up to us to choose.

And like those in Jesus’ day, many of us want to have it both ways.  We want to claim Jesus as Lord and still do as we please.  But Jesus sees the hypocrisy in that and asks the obvious question: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” For isn’t that the definition of “Lord,” that submission is given to one with such a title, that obedience to such a person is understood?

What the people of Jesus’ day had done, and what we do as well, is make “Lord” a title for Jesus without the requisite obligations that come with it.  We want to claim Jesus as Lord of our lives without actually submitting to Him.  We want to live our lives as we please, but then pretend He has a central role in them. We would rather He serve us than we serve Him.

Think about it.  Do we really want to submit our future to Him?  If you are single, are you willing to submit to the Lord even if it means you might never marry?  Are you willing to submit your vocation to Him even if it means doing something very different than you have planned?  

And what about the present?  Are you willing to forgive and reconcile with someone who has caused you pain?  Are you willing to change your lifestyle to a manner more pleasing to the Lord?

And what about the past?  Are you willing to forgive as the Lord has forgiven you—both yourself and others?  

The truth that Jesus laid bare is we so often want to do what we want regardless of what He says.  We want our way more than His.  We can call Him “Lord,” but the truth of that is borne out by how we live in submission to Him.

Today, if you call Jesus “Lord,” is it more than a mere title.  Are you living in submission to His will?  If He is truly your Lord, then you will seek to do what He says to do.  You may not always succeed, but there will be no question of your desire to do so.

© Jim Musser 2016

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