Tag: King

Jesus is Lord, What Does That Mean

When we hear that Jesus is Lord, it should conjure up some feelings and understandings within us. But, what are they. James MacDonald asks in my study this morning what I think about when I hear that Jesus is Lord. My written response was quick and only three words, King, controller, Father. Then I kept reading and came to the realization, He is more than that and I have to think harder.

Jesus is Lord is not just about who He is but also what He is. He has titles and roles, He is not just there. Way more is Jesus as Lord than King, controller, and Father.

“15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” – Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV)

Colossians 1:15-20 give us the picture of who Jesus is and what He does/did. MacDonald lists out six things that He is/does/did. Where I agree 100 percent, I wanted to bring my own thoughts here.

“1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” – John 1:1-3 (ESV)

Jesus is Lord means that He is the everything. He is the beginning of everything. He is the end of everything. He is all things between. He created everything. Even as the image of God, there is not another like Him. Jesus as Lord is not just a role or a title or a position. He is action. He demonstrates Himself through that action. I have to remember that what He can do and does or did is as much of Him as who He is.

Something that struck me in my study this morning is our molecular structure. Our molecules should be exploding based on science yet they do not thanks to the Lordship of Jesus (see Colossians 1:17 above). He holds us together even at our most basic self. Jesus did not just create us, He keeps us together for His glory.

My thoughts of Jesus as Lord were so simplistic before, and where it is not bad to have a simple view, I have to remember that He is way more. As I have dove in and think of Jesus as Lord now, I think of Him as it all. All things come after Him, and, because of Him. I come back to the next part that John reminds us in His gospel.

“4In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:4-5 (ESV)

Jesus stands above all because He is above all. He is the light on the hill that draws us to Himself. He is looking over us and protecting us, because He created us. He loves us as a creation, but also as a Father and a brother. Jesus is Lord, because He is.

What do you think about when you hear, Jesus is Lord? Are you thinking as I did, about who He is? What if you were to add in all that He did/does and lean on that He created all things and all things are here after Him and because of Him, including you?

Who Leads You, God or King

I know, that seems like a question that may get some conflicting thoughts. And I will say that at first consideration, it does to me as well. This morning in my reading and study, I was asked to consider that very question and dug into them.

The Israelites wanted a king and the LORD granted their want. But as with most things, wants and needs are two very different things. The Israelites saw that grand size and wealth and pageantry of the other nations and wanted that very thing for themselves without considering the cost.

In 1 Samuel 8:10-22 Samuel laid out the cost to them. A king will take sons to be in the army, take daughters to serve him, take the best of fields for his pleasure, take your servants to serve as his, take the best of the flocks for his. Everything that was had by the Israelites was not theirs any longer, as ll belonged to the world and the king who reigned over it. Even after learning of all that a king will take, the people were still blinded by their want, and so the LORD gave it to them. The results were as to be expected, just what Samuel had laid out to them.

Contrast that with having our God. He is our king. He does not take, we give. Everything that we have, just as with a king, belongs to Him. The difference is that we continue to work it and have it for us. Our sons, stay with us until their time to have their own families. And the same for our daughters. That which comes from our fields is still for us to work and experience the bounty. Our servants, would remain in our household. Our flocks are for us to work and experience. All that we have is ours and the bounty that comes from it we attribute to the LORD and give freely back to Him.

Our kingdom should be ruled by God. He is the example of the true king in our lives. He provides for us as He only wants the best for us. No, we may not be rich with things of the world. We may not have millions of acres and/or millions of dollars. We will however have what we need to be content and enjoy our time together, and more importantly, our time with Him. By giving ourselves to God as our king, all will be provided for us.

“33But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

Who is leading your life? Are you beholden to a king and all that he takes from you? What if you were to worship God as your king and know that He provides all that we need?