In some Christian circles today, there is the teaching that we can enjoy the benefits of salvation through Christ without having to accept the “inconvenient” challenge of His lordship over our lives. Such an unbalanced notion is not found in the Bible. Many Christians today are, therefore, very comfortable with Jesus in a manger and Jesus crucified on the cross. But not how we may share in his suffering (Galatians 2:20) The reality of the reign and lordship of Christ over their lives seems foreign. Many of us have not settled the question of “Who” the Lord of our life is and, therefore, continue to wallow in sin and despondency. There is no doubt that there are teeming numbers of Christians who claim that Jesus is their Lord and Saviour, but their lifestyles, attitudes and deeds do not support such claims. Living a victorious Christian life calls for a life of commitment to the lordship of our Lord Jesus Christ.
There is no argument that a life that is yielded to the lordship of Christ produces fruitfulness and glows with the glory of God. This life begins with the adoption as children of God. However, when we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour, it also involves a recognition of His lordship, for we cannot receive Him as Saviour alone, without a commitment to His lordship over our lives.
Our understanding of Christ’s lordship, that He owns us (Psalm 24:1), that we are His sheep (Ps 100:3), that we are His subjects and live under His authority should help to maintain a particular identity of us as examples of Christ in this perverted world. Our lifestyles and actions must show Christ in us as Lord who exercises authority and influence over us. If Jesus is indeed our Lord, it must reflect in our work ethics, our worldviews and values.
A Christian who upholds Jesus Christ as Lord demonstrates that there is no distinction between their private and public life because the public expresses the inner life. The inner life is ‘Christ in you’, and the outer life is the ‘glory’ that is lived out for people to see (Colossians 1:27). The public life involves our eyes, ears, lips, hands, feet, our entire body. Our public life is expressed by what we see, say, hear, where we go, and what we do. It is so important that Jesus be Lord over our public life. We need to see the public life in the context of home life, the workplace, the classroom, and the neighbourhood. We need to see it in our relationship with friends, family, work colleagues, neighbours, and classmates. It must also be seen in our attitude toward possessions, obligations, and responsibilities, and the use of our time and resources.
As head and Lord, Christ continues to supply His Church with benefits as the Church submits to Him. What is expected of us as Christians is to let the understanding of His lordship influence our daily lives. If we allow Christ to be Lord of our families, our homes, our workplaces, our communities and nations, we shall see transformed lives that will reflect the glory of Christ to nations.
