“But I said, not so, Lord; for nothing common or unclean hath at anytime entered into my mouth’’ Acts 11:8(KJV)
To be saved, one has to acknowledge Jesus as Lord. With the heart, man believers unto righteousness and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. The sinner confesses with his mouth, the Lord Jesus believing in the heart that God has raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9-10). It is this belief in the heart expressed by declaration of the Lordship of Jesus with the mouth that shows faith in the redemptive work of Christ.
However, the Lordship of Jesus is not only at the new birth but the entire life of the believer. The believer no longer lives to please self but to please the one who loved him and gave his life for him. It is no longer his life but Christ-life. To acknowledge Jesus as Lord is not a mere profession but a lifestyle. The implication is that Jesus is in control of one’s life. He is the new manager and deserves to be obeyed, loved, served and honored as such.
It is his will that matters not one’s comfort or convenience. He comes first and so his will and ways have to be of top priority (Matthew 6:33). To say “Jesus is Lord” means not my will but his will be done. Submission to his will should be without objection or argument and this must be done willingly.
It must be yes to his command and instructions. No or not so Lord is inconsistent with the principle of lordship. It must be yes Lord, completely yes with corresponding action of followership. One must be willing to be a disciple of Jesus, which is what Lordship of Jesus entails. One must be willing to deny himself and follow Jesus. It is no to personal agenda that is opposed to God’s will or to God’s way. It is no to the way of the world and yes to godliness. It is no to sin and yes to righteousness.
Notice here that Peter out of ignorance and childishness said “not so Lord”. Ultimately, the will of God prevailed over his religious tradition and prejudices. In our human limitations and ignorance, we may feel we know better, that our idea or way is better; this explains why we sometimes argue with God, delay obedience or even refuse to submit. The result is that we lose our peace and joy of fellowship but his love and grace will always bring us to align with his will and way. We will always have reasons for wanting to do things our own way which may at such time seem right to us because we know in part and we see in part. As we grow and learn to walk intimately with the Holy Spirit in the light of his word, our mind is renewed, we fall in alignment with his will and so obedience becomes much easier. We come to know the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. We come to understand that his commandments are not grievous and that his thoughts for us are thoughts of good not of evil.
PRAYER: Dear God, help me to always submit to the Lordship of Jesus.
Rev. Vincent Diolu