Chuckle: “I see our neighbors
have returned our grill,” the wife commented. “They’ve had it for eight
months, and I was afraid that in their move, they’d take it with them by
mistake.” “That was our grill?” shouted her husband. “I just paid twenty
dollars for it at their yard sale!”
Quote: "I say, the acknowledgement
of God in Christ Accepted by thy reason, solves for thee All questions in the
earth and out of it." --Robert Browning
LORDSHIP OF CHRIST
"And now, just as you
accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to
him" (Colossians 2:6 NLT).
When you receive Jesus Christ into your
heart and life as Savior, you have taken the first, but all important, step in a
growing relationship with Him. The next step is to make Him Lord of your life
and give Him dominion over everything you are and everything you do. To live in
Him is to live with Him as Lord and the center of your life. Total surrender to
His will is the only response that truly makes Him Lord.
When we make Christ our Lord, we will follow His
leadership and allow Him to grow us into mature spiritual followers. He wants
to be your daily companion to guide, direct, and teach you as you deal with the
problems and challenges of life. When we decide to live for Him, we will make a
total submission of our wills to Him; we will concentrate on learning more and
more about Him and how we can live in Him more fully; and depend upon the power
of the Holy Spirit in all situations.
Calling Jesus Lord is one thing but to live under His
Lordship daily is another matter entirely. Jesus is keenly aware when what we
profess and what we practice do not match. Jesus addressed this question to His
listeners, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,'
and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46 NIV). Making Christ
Lord of your life means obeying His commands. The term "Lord" is much more than
a polite title of respect for Christ when speaking of our relationship with
Him. The term Lord means Master and calls us to sacrificial living and strict
obedience.
There are three ways a skier can get to the top of the ski
slope. He can try to walk up on his own, or be pulled up as he holds on to a
strap, or he can ride up in the chair lift. This illustration vividly depicts
the various ways Christians try to live the victorious Christian life. Some try
completely in their own strength; others try to combine their own effort with
some degree of dependence on God. But the only way to know true victory in
every situation is total dependence on the Holy Spirit," and submission to the
Lordship of Christ.
Would you join me in a new commitment to really make
Christ our Lord and, in the power of the Spirit, endeavor each day to reflect
that relationship. If we do this, He will grant us an extra measure of peace,
joy, and contentment.
Love, Jerry & Dotse
