Lord - "A person who has authority, control and power over others"
Beloved. God wants to be friends with us but first He must be our Lord. It is true that Abraham was considered a friend of God but not until God was the Lord of his life. It doesn't happen because we sing it. Look at that definition. Is that who God is in our lives? In the lives of our church? Do we concede authority to the Holy Scriptures -- which is the inspired Word of God? Or do we trot out our Bibles to play church on Sundays and then pitch our tents towards Sodom the rest of the week. Please, I am not speaking about perfection but there is a stark difference between occasionally sinning while trying to do what God wants and occasionally trying to do what God wants while sinning. What is Lord over our lives? The modern church tries too hard to fit Christianity into the lives of people instead of making their lives to be about Christ. David was a man after the very heart of God yet he was also a man. He sinned greatly. He was a murderer and an adulterer. Yet read the Psalms which he penned and you will have no doubt that God was the Lord of his life despite his human failings.
Do we give the control of our lives over to God or are we still hanging on to the steering wheel? If God is your co-pilot beloved then you are in His seat! When faced with a life decision is God the advisor or the decider? You see, this cuts to the heart of what is wrong with the "God is my friend" theology. We do not have to take the advice of our friends. Our Lord however should have complete control. I am amazed how easily we dismiss what God wants in favor of what we want despite the fact that the Bible insists that He is working all things out for our good. This is yet another by-product of the bless me theologies that are corrupting the Body of Christ. The answer "no" is also a blessing from God. We may not be able to see it yet but it is a blessing nonetheless. I understand this is difficult. We live in a world that despises dependency. It is not surprising that the devil would create systems that are diametrically opposed to God! But we can't go saying "Lord Lord" if we insist that we are the potter. God is the Author and we need to stop trying to take the pen out of His hand. I am always amazed that He chosen to write me in at all. I must resist the urge to take the pen and write a bigger piece for me than He intends. Lastly from the definition, do we allow God to have power over us?
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. -- Proverbs 3: 5-6 (NLT)
Allowing God to have the power in our lives is to seek His will in all we do. It grates against our human nature of rebellion and against the world system we live in which caters to the strong willed independent types. The truth is we lean far too much to our own understanding while wrapping up our poor choices in "Lord Lord." Jesus is saying here -- stop saying I am your Lord -- make me your Lord!
I don't want to gloss over this beloved. There are real eternal stakes involved. How real is this to Jesus? The second set of key verses from the Gospel of Matthew indicates that our very salvation hinges upon it. Not everyone who says "Lord Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven! And just look at what these folks did in the name of Jesus! They cast out demons! They performed many miracles! Some will get there and say --
Didn't we put on a Christmas play in Your Name?
Didn't we hold an Easter egg hunt in Your Name?
Didn't I tithe correctly, serve in ministry and carry my Bible in Your name?
