Lord and Savior

2 Peter describes Christ as "Lord and Savior" in 1:11 as well as 3:18. This Wednesday, we are praying that Jesus is both these things in our lives. First, let's look at the savior part. For Christ to be our savior, we need to have accepted His sacrifice on the cross as payment for our sins (past, present, and future sins). It's a gift and it's a one time thing. There's nothing we can do to earn it and there is nothing we can do to keep it or lose it. Once we accept it, it's ours. Now let's look at the lord part. Webster defines Lord as "master or ruler". If Christ is our Lord, he is who we listen to. He is who we submit to. He is who we obey. And He is who we strive to emulate. We do this the rest of our lives.

Savior is all about love and Lord is all about the obedience that springs from this love. I heard one pastor describe Christianity this way: "The entrance fee is nothing but the annual dues are everything."

Chances are, since you're on this fasting and prayer list, Christ is already your savior. However, if you're at all like me, He isn't always your Lord. This week, let's all pray that we are placing Christ in the position of Lord of our lives. That we are looking to Him in all things. Why should we obey Him? Two reasons: Because He's God… and because we're not. They're two separate and distinct things and it can take us a lifetime to get them right.

Early on, when Ann Sullivan first started working with Helen Keller, she spent a lot of time working against Helen's strong will in an attempt to teach her manners. After one particularly trying interaction, she wrote the following: "Although I'm sure we will have many more of these altercations, it occurs to me there are only 2 essential things I can teach her… Obedience and Love." I think our Father looks at us the same way.

Have a great week and a great fast.
Your brother,
Bob

Love (10/25/04)

"…God is love…" 1 John 4:16.

Think about the cross. Think about the grace and mercy given to us on the cross. Think about the root of this grace and mercy - God's love for us. I don't know why He loves me. But knowing that He loves me is at the core of my faith. It allows me to set aside self and love Him back in my own imperfect way. And ultimately, isn't this what God wants from us? For us to love Him back - allowing His perfect love to shine through us?

Love is the root and the power behind all the so called "symptoms" of a Christian life. For example - God doesn't need us to give of our treasures - but if we love Him, we do. And He doesn't want us to give them unless they are given in love. Likewise, God doesn't need us to do good works. He's big enough to accomplish all the good works we could possibly do the rest of our days with just a wave of His finger. Yet if we love Him, we want to do good works (not out of compulsion but out of love and gratitude).

From the moment of salvation onward for the rest of our lives, we are learning about His love for us, accepting this love, and learning how to love Him back - so that His love can shine through us. Love is the very center of Christianity which is where it should be since God is love. I am in the kindergarten of love school being taught by the author of the subject - love itself.

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:1-7.

So let's all fast and pray this Wednesday for love. For our own love of the Father. And that others who have not yet come to know His liberating love can come to meet Him at the cross.

Have a great week and a great fast.
Your brother,
Bob