Jesus as Lord

"For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."  --Philippians 2:9-11

This is the British version of our Yield sign.  Even though we were in an English-speaking country there were many differences we needed to understand in order to get where we needed to go.

This month's chapter in Diana Butler Bass's book, Freeing Jesus, is entitled "Lord,"  She tells us that the Jewish people believed the name of God was so sacred that it should not be spoken aloud.  They'd use the word adonai, "Lord," in its place.  The Greek-speaking Jews referred to God as kyrios "Lord."  She says kyrios meant "master," "ruler," "God"...."each signifying one who holds dominion over the lives and fates of those under his sway.  'Jesus is Lord' was subversive and empowering, a form of submission one could choose in a world of otherwise little choice, a way of life that results in finding oneself by giving oneself totally and unreservedly to this crucified Jewish peasant kyrios."  As she said, if Jesus is Lord, then Caesar is not, which put those early Christians in danger of being traitors to the government.

Down through the ages Christians were often in opposition to the governing agents because of their beliefs and many forfeited their property and even their lives for it.  Even today, because of laws that have been enacted to prevent discrimination, some believe their only choice is to go against their beliefs if they want to stay in business.  But I don't see it that way.  Firstly, they need to look to Jesus and what He did.  Bass quotes her friend John Fugelsang who described Jesus as:

A radical, nonviolent revolutionary who hung out with lepers, hookers and crooks; wasn't American and never spoke English; was anti-wealth, anti-death penalty, and anti-public prayer (Matt. 6:5), who was never anti-gay, who never mentioned abortion or birth control, never called the poor lazy, never justified torture, never fought for tax cuts for the wealthiest Nazarenes, never asked a leper for a co-pay, and who was a long-haired, brown-skinned, homeless community-organizing, anti-slut-shaming Middle Eastern Jew."

 In other words, Jesus was not political.  What we need to take a stand for are the causes that Jesus took a stand for.

She conjectures that the turbulence of the 1960s and 70s enabled Jerry Falwell's political-religious crusade, the Moral Majority, to gain a foothold on America.  The thing is, you can't legislate morality.  Humans will be human.  The only solution is to make Jesus your Savior and Lord.  

I went to Andrew Farley's BibleQuestions.com to see what he had to say about making Jesus Lord:

When we believe in Jesus as our Savior, we are acknowledging His power and authority to save us. We are placing our trust in Him and surrendering our lives to Him. This surrender is not a condition for salvation, but rather a response to the grace and love that God has shown us through Jesus.

In terms of making Jesus Lord, it is important to understand that Jesus is already Lord. He is the Lord of all creation and the ruler of the universe (Philippians 2:9-11). When we believe in Him, we enter into a relationship with Him where He becomes our Lord and we become His followers. This relationship is characterized by a desire to align our lives with His will and to live in obedience to Him.

However, it is important to note that our ability to live in obedience and surrender to Jesus as Lord is not based on our own strength or efforts. It is the work of the Holy Spirit within us that enables us to live in accordance with God's will (Philippians 2:13). Our role is to trust in Him, rely on His grace, and allow Him to work in and through us.   

So, while making Jesus Lord is not a requirement for salvation, it is a natural response of a believer who has experienced the transforming power of God's grace. It is a journey of growing in our understanding of who Jesus is and allowing Him to have increasing influence in our lives.

 Making Jesus Lord, then, is not something we do, because as Farley points out, He is already Lord.  It explains why Christians can feel miserable much of the time!  God has prepared a path for us in which to live out our lives.  When we stray from that path, we often become our own worst enemy.  I for one can go from feeling utterly lost to being energized and ready to move on in the space of a moment---the moment when I place my eyes back on Jesus, reach out to grab His Hand, and get back on the path.  What I must Give Way to is His ever-Loving, ever-Presence so that He is in the lead and I follow.

Father, thank you for the assurance that I am Yours.  May I keep this continually in the forefront of my mind so that I don't stray from all that You desire for me.

Link to scripture:  Psalm 23:3

Take Action:  We Were Already Dead, What died at Salvation?