Identified with my Lord
Just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ Matthew 7: 20-23
The title “Lord,” when used referring to Christ is not merely a title of respect but an acknowledgment of relationship. It means that those that accepted Jesus in their lives as Lord and Savior have their lives no longer belonging to them but to God. This is what the Apostle Paul said when he wrote to Timothy. “But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his, and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil” (2 Timothy 2:19). You belong to God once you made Him the Lord of your life. You were bought through His blood shed on the cross. “For God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20). Since you belong to Him, God wants you to “honor Him with your body.” So, when you embrace Him as the Lord of your life, the implication is that He has control over your life. You are to follow Him. “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him” (Colossians 2:6). Even in the everyday activities of life, you will submit to His will. “Therefore, submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake” (1 Peter 2:13). Submission should be reflected in all your relationships. “For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church... For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her... Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do” (Ephesians 5:22-25; 6:1). The Lordship of Christ means that you will completely submit to Christ. This is what Jesus said in Luke 14:33 to His disciples after they had expressed their commitment to Him; “In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” Peter said, “We have left everything to follow you!" (Matthew 19:27). Is Jesus the Lord of your life? God demands your all! Are you willing to give it? “They gave themselves first of all to the Lord” (2 Corinthians 8:5).
Blessings,
Noel De Guzman
www.my-wbc.com