Luke 6:46 - Just Professing or Really Living For The Lord?
Luke 6:46 - Just Professing or Really Living For The Lord?
Luke 6:46 (KJV) And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the
things which I say?
Luke 6:46 (NLT) So why do you call me 'Lord,' when you won't
obey me?
James 1:22 (KJV) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers
only, deceiving your own selves.
True obedience is not just words but deeds, and it involves
hearing the Word and doing it (1 Thess. 2:13). Judas knew the
vocabulary, but he did not do the will of God; and when the storm came, his
house fell. [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe]
It is not enough to say, "Lord, Lord." The person who has
actually experienced forgiveness is the one who comes to Christ, who
hears Christ's words, and who puts them into practice. In other words,
when that inner transformation has well and truly taken place we will
be drawn to Jesus, continually looking and turning to Him. We will
be eager listeners to His Word. And we will be obedient
practitioners of His Word.
And, when the storms come, the cloak of the one who pretends
to have faith, whose commitment is merely intellectual, and who
enjoys dabbling in Christianity as long as he isn't forced to take it
too seriously, will be stripped away. He and all around will
suddenly realize what God knew all the time--that his claim to belong to
God was empty and insincere..... The storms of life will come. But
when they do the relationship that we have built with Jesus Christ
will enable us not only to survive, but to triumph. And in that
triumph we will not only witness to the reality of the forgiveness we
enjoy, but will also bring glory to our God. [Victor Bible Background
Commentary]
It's a piercing question that immediately undoes any casual
approach to following Jesus. It's one thing to claim to be a Christian
and to believe Christian doctrine, but quite another to follow Jesus
and live out His teachings. In other words, there's a huge
difference between calling Jesus Lord and submitting to Him as Lord. The
former is very common. The latter ... well, not so much.
Why do we call Him Lord without always following Him as Lord?
Maybe we're interested in salvation, but not in investing the time and
energy it takes to have a relationship with Jesus. Perhaps we expect
His lordship over us to be painful or unfulfilling. Or maybe we just
haven't understood who He is - the King of all creation - and as such,
His words carry enormous weight. Regardless of the reason, many
believers fit easily into cultural Christianity, but are uncomfortable
with the radical call of Jesus. That ignores the gravity of His
voice.
Imagine God giving you these two options: (1) to live a
mediocre existence without too many highs or lows; or (2) to lay it all
on the line and experience ultimate joy and rewards along with
genuine sacrifices. Which would you choose? Most of us would say we want
the second option - to live life to its fullest, in spite of the
costs. But that's exactly the choice God gives us, and most of us tend
to opt for average on a daily basis. If it were a one-time,
big-picture choice, it might be simpler. We can lay down our lives once and
for all. But in each moment of each day? Compromise is so much
easier in the small choices.
God is calling you higher. Don't ignore the gravity of His
voice. There's a great cost to doing what He says, but a greater
satisfaction, too. When He speaks, our responses matter.
Lord, You are leading me to lay down my life daily. You say
some difficult things, but You also promise unimaginable blessings
for doing them. I choose to follow You completely. [The One Year
Hearing His Voice Devotional by Chris Tiegreen]
Missing Heaven by 18 Inches
Does this title startle you?
How can anyone get so close and yet in the end hear the Lord
say, "I never knew you: depart from me''?
However, this will be the terrible result of many in our
churches today who are professing Christians, often with responsible
positions, but who have had only a head acceptance of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Tragically enough, even teachers, preachers and religious
workers are not exempt from the possibility of this chilling
indictment.
The distance between the head and the heart is 18 inches.
Unfortunately, a head--intellectual--knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, fully
knowing and giving mental assent to the plan of salvation, without also
a heart acceptance that brings the personal relationship that the
Bible demands, avails nothing to any man.
Listen to Paul's heart cry concerning Israel as he spoke
under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, "For I bear them record that
they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge." He was
speaking about misdirected efforts, energies expended in the strength of
the flesh but not under the direction of the Holy Spirit. The lack
of power today in many of our churches as well as the lack of power
today in the lives of many professing Christians can be laid directly
to this.
It is only as we see ourselves in the mirror of God's Word as
without excuse and without hope, utterly lost and undone, that the truth
of the Scriptures convicts us, for the Bible clearly reveals that
this is how God sees man.
Then, when the glorious truth of the gospel brings us to
recognition of our own sinfulness, and in true repentance we cry out to God
asking forgiveness and help, asking Him to come into our hearts, not
our heads, we experience the new birth.
Jesus Christ said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no
man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
The Bible also tells us that "He that hath the Son hath
[eternal] life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.''
Furthermore, the Bible promises "That if thou shalt confess
with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that
God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the
heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession
is made unto salvation."
Christ wants your heart, not just your head because "The Lord
seeth not as man seeth, for man looketh on the outward appearance, but
the Lord looketh on the heart."
It is vitally important that you make sure it is not just
head knowledge and mental assent you have given to Jesus Christ. He
needs the complete surrender of your heart and life so that you may be
truly born again.
Eighteen inches can mean an eternity with Christ or an
eternity without Christ. Are you sure of your personal relationship to
Him? Why not settle the question in your heart once and for all right
now? Paul W. Empet, American Tract Society, P. O. Box 462008,
Garland. Texas 75046
Sooner or later almost every person has at least one negative
opinion about his or her boss. Some bosses definitely earn this
reputation, while others come by it innocently through the instructions they
give their employees. In this latter instance, it comes down to this:
The boss has told you to do something, and you don't like it. What
can you do?
You may have never thought of Jesus as a bosslike figure, but
he was a leader while he was here on earth. Luke 4:14-6:49 contains
examples of his earthly leadership. Here he takes charge and gives
orders, and gets flak for it - just as we might expect. As you read,
watch Jesus lead, and learn from his example.
Many people think of Jesus as a nice man, even a great man,
who taught great truths. But the problem is that these same people
stop short of viewing Jesus as an authority figure. They don't think
he has any right to influence even the most minuscule area of their
lives. They don't understand that Jesus isn't just a nice teacher, a
gentle giant, or a profound guru. He's the Creator and absolute ruler
of the universe (see Colossians 1:16-20). He has all authority (see
Matthew 28:18). He has the right to tell us how to live, and he has
power over all forces in the universe - natural, physical, and
spiritual.
Whenever you read Jesus' teachings, see them as your mandate
for living. Read them as if they were directed right at you. Jesus
didn't come just to inspire us, but to lay claim to us. Can you call
him Lord, Master, King? [The One Year Through the Bible Devotional
by Dave Veerman]
I speak to you from deepest heaven. You hear Me in the depths of
your being. Deep calls unto deep. You are blessed to hear Me so
directly. Never take this privilege for granted. The best response is a
heart overflowing with gratitude. I am training you to cultivate a
thankful mind-set. This is like building your house on a firm rock, where
life's storms cannot shake you. As you learn these lessons, you are to
teach them to others. I will open up the way before you, one step at a
time. (Psa. 42:7; 95:1, 2; Mat. 7:24, 25) [Jesus Calling by Sarah
Young]
Every person has a house, a life to build. How he builds his
life determines his destiny, not just for this life, but for
eternity.... There is only One foundation for every life: Jesus Christ (1
Cor. 3:11). He is the Rock upon which both individuals and churches
are to build (Matthew 16:18). Everyone either builds upon this world
or upon Christ, [Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible]
In every decision in life there is a short view and a long view...
Happy is the man who sees things, not in the light of the moment, but
in the light of eternity... [Barclay Commentary]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE:
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2015/20150109-1040.html
GREAT PRAISE SONG FOR SHARING
There's Something About That Name & Oh How I Love Jesus:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0iX0-awCvc
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
Seeking God Video Clip: http://vimeo.com/31489782
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice
Prophecies Decoded Sermon Series:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
