Lord
The real meaning of the word “Lord” has been lost in modern culture. We use this word mostly as a way to respectfully approach a person of prominence (eg. a judge), and in some cultures, as a title of nobility. However, when we read texts that were written in other times it is important to understand the meaning that this word had in the time it was written in order to understand the connotation of the text.
The biblical use of the word “Lord” means: “one to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding.” So this word means more than simple respect or recognition, but also submission and total surrender to the one we call Lord. This is what Jesus himself taught us:
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 7:21
Our natural inclination is to be our own master. This may make us feel in ‘control’ of our lives, and think that we are in the right direction to achieve what we want. But at the end of the road nothing we do will make us worthy of eternal life. Our salvation depends solely on putting our faith in Jesus as our Savior and giving ourselves in complete submission to Him as our Lord.
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. – Romans 10: 9
We may convince ourselves that it is enough to acknowledge Jesus as Lord, but we would only be deceiving ourselves unless we accompany our profession of faith with a life of submission to His Lordship. The result of a life lived like this is very serious:
On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ – Matthew 7: 22-23
Oh God, help me to live my life according to what my mouth confess: that Jesus is Lord.
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