I recently read a post on LinkedIn about the name of God (see it here). My response after reading the post and the article about which the post was made was as follows:
- I suppose one aspect that affects my thoughts on this is considering the level of respect that goes into the concept of “Lord.” In our modern mindset, do we even get the concept of a “Lord?” So, if we don’t pay attention, calling Him “Lord” even loses its meaning.
As I’ve reflected on this further, it occurred to me that it would be good to work out what I think and mean when I say Lord.
As an American and an introvert, I have those “rugged individualism” tendencies. So, when it comes to the concept of “Lord,” it can be a little bit foreign. I have a Savior in Jesus Christ which is still beyond my comprehension (but that’s a story for another day). However, when I step into the idea that Jesus is my Lord, I have to continually dig into the idea and try to process in my American mind.
If we go back to the concept of lord in the feudal system, we find that a lord was a landowner granted land by a king or a noble. A lord had various responsibilities that he was required to fulfill such as protector of those living on the land he was given, doling out justice for those in his care, supporting his king in military, and collecting taxes. Some of those responsibility generally fit or at least help to form the concept a bit. Benevolent monarchs and lords in those days, given human nature, were probably a bit rare.
If you review the usage of Lord in the Bible, it doesn’t have quite the same feel as later in feudal times. However, there is still the idea of “master” or someone over another. Again, this is still a foreign concept in my mind.
As I continually try to understand the best way to think about Lord, I am working on an increasing understanding of submission. I am learning to submit my priorities, rights, abilities, all that I have to Him. The idea that I draw from that is more that I am beholden to the Lord as I have nothing without Him. In the cosmos, I have no authority without my relationship to the Lord. The more I draw on the idea of Lord, I recognize that my relationship with Him is so strongly developed in service to Him. My plans and purpose are worthless unless they are submitted to Him. As I’ve grown older and (hopefully) wiser, it’s gotten through my thick skull that the Christian life should be about submitting my will to His, resting in His graces, and knowing that it’s His plan I should be working towards, not my own.
So, for me, having Jesus as my Lord is about learning to submit to Him every aspect of my being. That’s not a dominance thing on His part. We submit because only He can accomplish the plan through us. I can’t do it on my own. I still have to fight my own strivings and continually submit to Him. I won’t achieve that perfectly this side of eternity.
When we continually learn how great and exceptional our God is, His Lordship in our lives becomes more and more desirable. Imagine if you were completely destitute with no prospects, mired in substantial debt, guilty of the worst, and, suddenly, Someone picks you up, pays your debts, wipes away your guilt, blesses you to the point of prosperity, and gracefully rebuilds your spirit. That is the benevolent Lord that we have. He is worthy of all honor we can give Him in our feeble attempts.
I’m reminded of the Jars of Clay song, “Love Song for a Savior” from 1995 here as I don’t feel as though I’m doing justice in this description:
It seems too easy to call you ‘Savior’
Not close enough to call you ‘God’
So as I sit and think of words I can mention
To show my devotion
But, here is the unthinkable. His Lordship does not depend on my submission. He is still Lord and working according to His purpose (on my behalf) even when I haven’t submitted well (or at all) to Him. He continues in His character to uphold all that He is even when we can’t or won’t. That doesn’t mean that everything works out well for us and it’s all peaches and cream. He promised that “in this world you will have trouble but be of good courage because I have overcome” (emphasis mine). Our Lord has overcome even when we have trouble. That’s absolutely astonishing to me that He continues to overcome on my behalf even when I’m a putz.
So, as I learn to follow Him daily, it’s my constant job to bow my priorities, my abilities and resources (that He gifted me), my ambitions, my big ideas (that are miniscule when they are not aligned with His)…all of it…to Him. I must lay it at His feet in submission, not because He forces me, but because He is my Savior AND Lord!!
As I walk through my day, He points out things that I haven’t submitted to Him. Things that I hold on to through fear or pride or ignorance or laziness (or whatever), the Holy Spirit works in me to gently point those things out. Even as I’m writing this, things are popping into my head that I’ve been worrying about/thinking through/trying to figure out that I realize that I really haven’t submitted to Him well. Lord help me lay them at Your feet and hear You in those things.
What do you need to submit to your Lord?
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