Our Response

So how do we best respond to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?

Though we might start by recoiling from his authority, our heart changes once we understand how God loves us.

The starting point of an appropriate response to knowing that God is Lord is gratitude.

Why?

First, we are grateful to be rescued from absurdity. We were fools! Yet God helped us in our ignorance.

We are grateful to be rescued from chaos. We were making a mess of our lives! Yet God helped us in our failures.

We are grateful to be rescued from harsh taskmasters. All our previous Lords - ourselves included - were harsh and demanding. So we are overwhelmed with gratitude that the true Lord is a servant who loves us.

To have Jesus be the Lord of our lives is one of the greatest gifts we have ever received because it is a treasure to have Jesus show us how to live.

Our next question follows from gratitude: How can I please my Master?

Eventually, we want to do more than respond to the whims of our hearts. We want to make a plan. We ask, "What will it look like - in the ordinary routines of my life - to honor God's leadership?"

What's called a Rule of Life is one vehicle for doing this, but you might have another approach.

The question we ask is, "What does it look like to make Jesus Lord of my life and in every area of my life?" This is what it means to become a disciple. We get a clear, actionable plan for obeying Jesus in every part of our lives.

Jesus taught his disciples, "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher."

What does it look like to be fully trained by Jesus? That's a question you need to ask and keep asking, for the rest of your life.

Think of John 15:

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

But what kind of plan are we developing? Given the kind of Lord we obey, our plan will lead us to prioritize serving others.

Picture a husband whose sole aim is to serve his wife, and a wife equally devoted to serving her husband. Imagine this couple working together to demonstrate to their children what following Jesus looks like.

A former pastor taught me, don't say you want to be a servant leader. Just be a servant. Once you add the "leader" back into the phrase, it sneaks back in on you: being first, being in charge, being important, getting all the rewards for yourself. Just say, I'm a servant. I'm here to help others experience the fulfillment and purpose that can be found in obeying our First Love.

Even Jesus' disciples sought places of prominence. How did he respond?

"But Jesus called them to him and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'"

Oh Triune God of love, we seek to love obedience as much as the Psalmist did.

We confess:

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! Blessed are those who keep your testimonies, who seek you with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in your ways!

You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.

Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules. I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!

Oh God, how can we keep our ways pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes! With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

You are our First Love. Thank you for also being our Lord.

In Christ's name, Amen.

(Based on Psalm 119)

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