“Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am” (John 13:13).
TEXT — John 13:12-20
Message
Tim Keller compares the lordship of Jesus Christ to what he calls “a life-quake”: “When a great big truck goes over a tiny little bridge, sometimes there’s a bridge-quake, and when a big man goes onto thin ice there’s an ice-quake. Whenever Jesus Christ comes down into a person’s life, there’s a life-quake. Everything is reordered. If he was a guru, if he was a great man, if he was a great teacher, even if he was the genie of the lamp, there would be some limits on his rights over you. If he’s God, you cannot relate to him at all and retain anything in your life that’s a non-negotiable”.
In acknowledging the lordship of Christ, we should go beyond the usual lifting up of hands in worship and praise, into a life of absolute surrender to His will. From today’s passage, Christ questioned the disciples to ascertain their understanding of the practical lesson He had taught them: humility, self-denial, preference for others, self-crucifixion, and willingness to serve rather than be served.
Our knowledge of Christ should lead to practical submission and obedience to His teachings. Merely hearing and appreciating is not enough; we must allow the Word to transform us. We belong to Jesus, being His purchased possession. Yielding to His lordship means acknowledging His ownership and giving up our rights. Total and unreserved obedience is required when Jesus is the Lord of our lives. If we truly submit to Him, we will do as He instructs us.
Many people view Jesus as a Saviour rather than a Lord, limiting His authority in their lives. This lack of faithfulness is unacceptable, as Christ should be the ruler in all aspects of our lives, guiding our thoughts, desires, and actions. Our actions need to glorify Christ. We must not seek self-gratification or the approval of others. Many who profess faith in Christ do not understand this concept, living as they please without considering God’s will. If you have accepted Christ as your Saviour, He should also be the Lord over every aspect of your life. Let Him be in control of everything you do.
Thought for the day
Christ would rather have all of you, not some of you.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
