7 May
Savior and Lord?
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21
If you have ever seen someone perform the old vaudeville act of plate spinning, you will have a good picture of what life has felt like lately. You know, furiously running from plate to plate to keep each one upright on its tall, wobbly stick as though the world depends upon my personal involvement and oversight to keep it spinning on its axis. Yes, I admit it. I have a control problem. It’s not really that I want control. It’s just that I am afraid that if I do not do everything myself that it won’t get done.
There are so many problems with this hopeless and hysterical picture that I almost don’t know where to begin. It is impossible to keep all the plates spinning. I am letting fear get the better of me. I am demonstrating a terrible lack of faith. But, I suppose the very worst of it is that I am putting myself in God’s place. You see, I gratefully accept His grace and salvation. Yes, I believe that He has the power to take away the sins of the world; but, evidently, I think He needs my help to keep everything else in order. Sure, Jesus can be my Savior, but will I let Him be my Lord?
Ouch! That hits where it hurts. Am I really trying to take His place? If I am honest with myself, I have to say, “Yes.” When I think that everyone’s happiness depends upon me or that I have to micromanage the details of just about everything in my life, then I am out of control. I have jerked the reins right out of His hands, climbed into the driver’s seat, and decided that I just might be able to handle things a little better than He. My fear and worry demonstrate my lack of trust in His ability to work things out for my good and for the good of my family and friends. I am like those Jesus referenced when He said, “Many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophecy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’” Jesus said He will say to them, “I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!” How very sad and how terribly unnecessary.
The solution to my out-of-control control problem is to surrender. After all, that’s what lordship means. He is Lord, and I am not. When I surrender, relax in His will, and let Him lead, things fall back into their proper order, and peace flows back into my life. I can feel my muscles unclenching even as I write these words. All to Jesus, I surrender; All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live. I surrender all, I surrender all, All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.
Is Jesus your Savior and your Lord? What is He showing you to surrender to Him today? Are there areas in your life that are still out of His control? Pardon my mixed metaphors, but stop spinning the plates and give back the reins! Trust Him to handle it all. Ultimately, it is His job.
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