Is Jesus just a good influence, or is He your Lord? I can ask this of you because God already asked this of me. No, I didn’t hear an audible voice or receive inscribed stone tablets, but just the same, Jesus asked me this while I was praying today. Jesus didn’t ask me this just to give me something to write about.
So, as I was praying, the Holy Spirit dropped this question in my heart. It was a question from Jesus for “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak,1 ” As you may expect, this messed with my agenda!
Confessing Jesus as Lord
I thought, “Have I allowed myself to become so casual with Jesus that I’ve forgotten He is my Lord (owner) for He purchased me through His agony and death on the cross?” As I pondered this question – good influence or Lord – I was reminded that everyone would someday confess Jesus Christ as Lord.
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 2
This passage makes it clear that everyone who has ever existed will one day kneel to Jesus and confess Him as Lord. Christ’s Lordship is not within anyone’s control. From Alexander the Great to the Buddha to you and me, we all will bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
This knowledge puts us in a favorable position: We haven’t died, yet! I know many people that seldom cuss, are often helpful, and generally are well thought of. No doubt, someone in their lives was a faithful Christian, but not them. Jesus has influenced them, but they have not bowed to Him.
Why We Were Called
who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.“3
Jesus personally called you and me. He called us to be zealous for good works. Jesus called us because He has a unique purpose for each of us, which brings us back to my opening question. Is Jesus just a good influence on you, or is He Lord of your life?
Side Note: The reason that, in many churches, people bow is to show that they have yielded their lives to Jesus. It’s better to bow now than to wait until you have no choice but to bow.
As Christians, is Jesus Lord of how we live? Do we filter everything through, “Is this your will, Jesus?” I had to consider my answer carefully. I pray that you do the same.
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