Lord - Who is Jesus?
Lord
Kύριος
“God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11, NLT)
“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9, NLT)
“But for us, there is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live.” (1 Corinthians 8:6, NLT)
Humans desire power over their own lives. We can trace this longing to be our own authority back to Adam and Eve in the biblical story found in Genesis.
From childhood to adulthood, we often hope to shape our own futures, live by our self-defined rules, and chase our egocentric goals. And occasionally our plans work out. We achieve some successes that reinforce our perception that we have power over our lives. Yet, at some point, life confronts us with a humbling reality. Our control over circumstances is genuinely limited. Sometimes this realization gently dawns on us, and other times it comes crashing down during personal crises, health difficulties, or fractured relationships.
When we align our lives with Christ, we displace ourselves as the center of our universe and recognize him as our Lord—the same word used in Philippians 2:11. The underlying Greek word for this position of authority is Kyrios, a translation of the Hebrew word Adonai. Both words convey a sense of true mastery, autonomy, and sovereignty. When we submit to Christ as Lord, we agree to come under his authority, yield to his plans, and entrust our futures to him.
In Philippians 2:10, Paul emphasized the universal authority of Jesus Christ. He declared that “every knee should bow” in reverence to Jesus’ name. Whether we align ourselves with him or not, Jesus is ultimately in control. Nothing happens without his knowledge and permission. Recognizing Jesus as Lord goes beyond mere belief and calls for wholehearted trust, loyalty, and obedience. By acknowledging him as our Lord, we align our lives with him and his teachings. He is the one we should follow, worship, and obey, even at a cost to ourselves.
What is one important decision you need to make? Knowing that Jesus wants to be the Lord of your life, how can you let go of control and let Him lead you?
PRAYER
Lord, I am often drawn to make my own selfish decisions and aspire to be the lord of my own life. Help me to trust you, obey you, and align my life with you. Amen.
