Names of Christ: Who do you say that I am?
Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:9-11
Throughout the Bible, we hear that Jesus Christ is Lord. What does that really mean? A lord is defined as a person who has authority, control, or power over others. A lord is one who has influence over others, who is in charge, and worthy of following. So, if we say that Jesus Christ is Lord (with a capital L), we are saying that Jesus is in charge of all. When we proclaim that Jesus is Lord, we are affirming that Christ has control over all in this world. We are recognizing Jesus’ influence in our lives and how we go about our daily living. We are stating that Jesus is worthy of our dedication, devotion, and obedience.
Unfortunately, other things can creep into our lives that seek to compete with Christ for that lordship. I wonder how often we give other voices (leaders, friends, celebrities, etc.) the power of ultimate influence in our lives. I wonder how often we let our own vices (greed, gluttony, selfishness, etc.) get in the way of truly following Christ’s call for our lives. I wonder how often we let other forces have control over our lives in regards to how we spend our time and money, how we care for those around, and how we show God’s love to others. Today, let’s take time to focus on making sure Jesus Christ is truly Lord of our lives and reflecting that sovereignty in all we say and do.
Prayer
Lord of Lords, help us to recognize that You are in charge of everything. Enable us to take comfort in that fact and empower us to place You first in all parts of our lives. Strengthen us to respond to Your call to love You with all our heart, soul, and mind. In Your name, Amen.