The lordship of Christ
It is important that professing Christians are not just converts but disciples, fully surrendered to the lordship of Christ in all things. Jesus Christ should be:
Lord of our thinking
Many Christians have a mind sound in truth, but often fail because they let negative or evil thoughts rule their thinking.
We must deliberately and prayerfully replace unedifying thoughts with Christian thinking. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, ‘Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ’.
When we do this, the Holy Spirit will help us to have the mind of Christ. ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee’ (Isaiah 26:3).
Lord of our hearing
We must guard our ears too, for often we hear gossip, tale-bearing, backbiting and evil reports of God and men. Some Christians incline their ears to lewdness, abusive words and uncouth language on the TV, IPod or internet.
But we must listen to the voice of the Lord in his Word. He often speaks in a ‘still small voice’ when we are quiet and prayerful and reading his Word, rather than in the hectic hustle and bustle of life.
We are to be slow to wrath and quick to hear, and good listeners of God’s Word. Remember, Romans 10:17 says, ‘So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God’. ‘Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David’ (Isaiah 55:3).
Lord of our seeing
Some look for the unedifying things of life. They see only faults and failures in others and amplify them. Some feast on unhelpful web sites, videos, TV, movies and such like.
But we must look for the coming of Christ, keeping our eyes on Jesus. Let him be Lord of all our seeing and let our eyes behold his glory.
We need the Lord, and are to read the Scriptures daily and be grounded in the love and fear of God. ‘Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else’ (Isaiah 45:22).
Lord of our talking
One parent told me that many Christian youths these days talk about almost any subject except the Lord and spiritual things. But this is often true of adults too.
We should talk about the things of the Lord — about faith, hope, love, the gospel, the Bible, prayer needs, the souls of men and the many wonderful works our Lord performs.
Our tongue is a small member of our body and we are to use it to exhort, comfort and admonish one another in the Lord. ‘Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers’ (Ephesians 4:29).
Be careful that what you say is edifying to men and glorifying to God. The children’s hymn reminds us:
O be careful, little tongue what you say,
O be careful, little tongue what you say,
For the Father up above
He’s looking down in love,
So, be careful little tongue what you say.
Lord of our doing
Many Christians fail when it comes to doing God’s work. They are too unconcerned or too busy with their own affairs. We must take time for God — attend church, share his Word, do good deeds, visit the sick, and witness to the unsaved, as opportunity affords.
We are to be not just hearers, but practitioners of the Word (James 1:22; Philippians 4:9).
Lord of our going
‘As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him’ (Colossians 2:6). Many are searching for pleasure, fun and leisure, and pursuing personal interests, rather than the glory of the Lord. But if we walk in Christ, we will find lasting joy and reap eternal rewards.
‘Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart’ (Psalm 37:3-4).
He is ever with us, when we walk in his way. He says, ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world’ (Matthew 28:18-20).
Lord of our all
It is indeed a privilege and joy to be saved, but we must submit to the lordship of Christ in our lives and let him rule and guide us every day. Our God-given faculties are to be for his glory and the blessing of others. For, if Christ is not lord of all, he is not lord at all.
Jack Sin
