There are many names of Jesus, but there is only one name we call him that saves our soul. Do you know that name? He’s not just our friend, he’s not just the lamb, he’s not just our teacher, he’s not just the Prince of Peace or the Bread of Life. He’s our LORD. When Jesus is our Lord, then everything changes.
Paul writes in Romans 10:9, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” It’s that simple and that specific. Jesus must be your Lord.
If you don’t let Jesus be your Lord, then God will let you be your lord. And let me tell you, you make a terrible lord over your own life. Do you know why? Because you don’t know best. You don’t see everything. You simply cannot guide and direct your life down the best path because you were never equipped to do that on your own. You were designed to need God. Without him, you simply cannot live a good, fulfilling and purposeful life.
What does it look like to make Jesus the Lord of your life?
In Biblical times, calling someone Lord signified a recognition of their power, of their authority, of their high status as master or ruler. ‘Lord’ meant, you are over me and I am under you. Think of the word ‘landlord’ which we use today. This is someone who owns the house that we’re temporarily renting from them. It’s theirs, not ours. We follow their rules, or we’re out. We agree to their terms, not the other way around. They are the land-lord and they have authority over their land.
Now, declaring Jesus is Lord is recognizing him as the supreme authority and highest position. He is above absolutely everything. He alone holds all power because everything belongs to him. If Jesus is your Lord, then you are under his authority and you’ve pledged your allegiance to him. He is the one you seek to honor. He is your master and you are his servant.
Easy enough – right?
But have you really given him that place? Is he really the one you seek above all else? Is he really your master? Does he really get the best of you, or does he get your leftovers? Does he take first place, or does he take back burner? Is he your first choice, or is he your last resort? If he is the Lord of your life, then everything you do comes from a place of serving him, honoring him, and seeking him.
Do I have any recovering people pleasers listening today? You’ve spent the majority of your life trying to make everyone happy. You so desperately want them to like you that you will sacrifice everything else along the way. It’s hard to let Jesus be Lord if you’re so busy trying to make everyone else happy. In fact, Paul, the same man who wrote the book of Romans, tells us in Galatians 1:10, “I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.”
You cannot always please people and God at the same time. Pleasing people cannot be your goal. Having everyone like you cannot be your objective. So who will be your priority? Really, who will get your time today? Who will get your attention today? Who will you serve first?
Do you have time set aside for God? Time to study his word and talk to him? Oh I hope so, because my sister, that is the only way you will truly grow.
Let’s say during your time with God, someone walks into the room and asks for your help. What do you do? Who do you please? Ahhhhh, man, that’s tough, isn’t it?
You know what I wish so badly I would have taught my children when they were little? I wish I would have taught them when Mama is on her knees that you can either join her or leave her alone, but you’re not going to pull her away. I wish I would have taught them that Mama’s time to read her Bible is more important t...