Faith & Insight: ‘Love and lordship’

Mother understood well the relationship between love for Jesus and the lordship of Jesus. She would say, “God help us if we only do for God what we want to do.”

Jesus said, “if you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

He asked, “why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ but do not do what I say?”

Jesus told a parable about two sons who were told by their father to work in his vineyard. The first son said, “I will not,” but he changed his mind and went to work. The second son said, “I will, sir,” but he did not. Jesus asked, “Which of the two did what the father wanted?” It was the first of course. Jesus isn’t interested in lip service, but lordship. The wise listen to the words of Jesus and put them into practice.

Love from a grateful heart moves one to submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ.

“We love because God first loved us” and “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices-holy and pleasing to God.”

Peter was asked three times, “Do you love Me?” Peter answered Jesus in the affirmative. Jesus responded, “feed my sheep.” “Tend my lambs.” “Feed my sheep.”

If you love him, you will keep his commandments. Mother Teresa understood the lordship of Jesus and she loved him with all her heart. While ministering to the needy in Calcutta, someone remarked to Mother Teresa that he would not do what she was doing for a million dollars. Her reply was, “Neither would I.”

The love of God and of humanity moved her to serve.

In his poem “Obedience,” George MacDonald describes the struggle of submitting to the lordship of Jesus. As MacDonald surrenders, he declares:

“Then into His hand went mine;

And into my heart came He;

And I walk in a light divine,

The path I had feared to see.”

Trust Him. Love Him. Walk with Him. Love and the lordship of Jesus- this is the abundant life!

Ken Haskins is head pastor at First Christian Church.