Dec

We Call Him Lord

As Christians, this season is a very special time of year. We celebrate Christmas as the birth of our Lord and Saviour.

But a thought has been digging at my brain for quite some time now. What does it really mean that Jesus is Lord? Most of us understand the meaning of saviour but lord is a word which is difficult for most North Americans to really understand.

In Canada we do have a monarch, but they are very removed from us. The queen does not even rule directly, but indirectly through representatives known as the Governor General and the Lieutenant Governors of the provinces. Even this authority is limited and the parliaments and senates do most of the governing. In the United States they do not have a monarch at all.

Those of us who have lived our lives in this type of setting don’t have the experience to truly understand the concept of lordship. For me, I have to struggle with the idea that Jesus as my Lord means something deeper than Her Majesty as my Queen. For the latter I have respect and admiration but little reverence or awe. She has very little sway over my life.

Jesus must have a higher place in the life of a Christian. He is directly involved in our lives. When he was born in a stable in Bethlehem, he was worshipped as King by the angels, the shepherds and the magi. In his death he was labelled as King by his killers.

As Christians, we own him as King, but do we truly understand what that means?

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go visit you?’

The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 26:34-40 (NIV)