The word “Lord” can also be translated as “Ruler.” He is the King of kings and the LORD of lords. He is gracious, merciful, loving, and just. He wants us to submit our wills to His perfect will. He longs to reign in our lives so that we can become all that He envisions.
Listen to what the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, “For Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive His new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.”
Question:
What would our world be like if everyone who has received Christ, was truly living to know Him and make Him known? Listen to the words of the Apostle Peter: “And remember that the Heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So, you must live in reverent fear of Him during your time here as ‘temporary residents.’ For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose Him as your ransom, long before the world began, but now in the last days He has been revealed for your sake.” (1 Peter 1:17-21 NIV)
Folks, if you pay for something, it belongs to you. It is yours. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul wrote, “Don’t you realize your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself. For God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body (life).”
David, in Psalm 103:1-4, wrote, “Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name. Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things He does for me. He forgave all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.” Could what David wrote also be your prayer?
The LORD is the captain of our salvation. In 1 Chronicles 29:11-12, we read “Yours Lord, is the greatness and power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belong to you. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all. Riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler of everything. Power and might are in Your hand, and it is in Your hand to make great and give strength to all.” I love this prayer by King David.
In 2 Chronicles 20:6, we read, “Yahweh, the God of our ancestors, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You.” Think of it folks, our God is personal, present, and all-powerful and no one can stand against Him!
Consider this – Job 42:2, “I know that you can do anything, and no plan of Yours can be stopped.” Our God is unstoppable. He can do whatever He pleases.
In Proverbs 19:21, we read “Many plans are in the man’s heart, BUT the LORD’s decree will prevail.”
· As our Creator. He made the rules by which all things and beings in the universe can co-exist in harmony.
· As our Judge, He shows His power to defeat those who refuse to submit to His holy and rightful lordship.
· As our Father, He motivates us with His love, setting boundaries that protect us from self-destruction.
· As our Shepherd, He rescues us from danger, provides for us, guides us, and gathers us to His heart in the cold and desolate darkness of the night.
· As our King, He reigns in majesty and exercises ultimate control over all people and events in history.
This One who rules over all is able to cause all things to work together for our benefit. Romans 8:28 says “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of them who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.”
We are so blessed to have Jesus ruling in our lives. He will keep us on the right path. We will enjoy His favor and be blessed with a fruitful life. May each of us, every day, yield to His tender touch.
Lead on O King Eternal,
Pastor Leonard
