Why Do We Call Him Lord?

Reflection

Do you have a pet peeve? You know, one of those things that really irks you. I know I do. For me, one of them is when someone always asks me for advice and then does the complete opposite each and every time, usually with not-so-favorable results. Not that you have to take my advice, but why even continue to come to me?

Now, I know this Scripture is talking about something much more serious, but that was what popped into my head when I read it. I started thinking about Jesus and the people who were following Him. Here He was with this great gathering of followers, teaching and healing, and we know that this was becoming a routine. But why were they following Him?

That question got me thinking about today. Why are we following Jesus?

Is it because we want blessings? Is it because we want a better life? Is it because we want Him to fix our problems, answer our prayers, or make things work out the way we want them to? Or are we following Him because of who He is?

Calling Him Lord

There is nothing wrong with bringing our needs to Jesus. He tells us to pray, and throughout Scripture we see people coming to Him with their troubles, their sickness, their fears, and their needs. But there is something different about following Jesus simply because of what we want Him to do for us and following Him because He is Lord.

Jesus asked a question that I think is still worth asking today: “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

That is a pretty direct question.

The word Lord means something. We aren't simply calling Jesus by a title. We are acknowledging His authority over us. If He is truly our Lord, then His words matter. Following Him isn't simply about agreeing with what He says or appreciating His teachings. It means allowing His words to influence how we live.

If He is truly our Lord, then His words matter.

Think about a master and servant relationship. A servant may admire his master, talk about his master, and even tell others how wonderful his master is, but if he continually refuses to do what his master tells him to do, there is a disconnect between what he says and how he lives.

And I think that is what Jesus was getting at.

A Life That Reflects His Word

It is easy to praise Jesus when He answers the prayer the way we wanted. It is harder to follow Him when obedience means letting go of something we want. It is easy to call Him Lord when everything is going well. It is harder when His Word challenges our attitudes, our choices, our relationships, or the things we have convinced ourselves are acceptable.

And we still see this disconnect today.

Jesus' name can be shouted at award shows. Crosses can be worn around someone's neck as easily as the latest fashion trend. People can talk about God, post Bible verses, and even speak about prayer, while their lives remain completely untouched by what Jesus taught.

Even prayer can become something we use almost like a superstition, as though simply saying the right words will produce the outcome we want. But Jesus didn't call us to use His name as a formula for getting what we want.

He called us to follow Him.

That means there should be something different about the way we live because we belong to Him. It doesn't mean we never struggle or never fail. It means that when Jesus speaks, we care about what He says. His words don't simply make us feel good. They give us direction.

In the verses surrounding this passage, Jesus had been teaching the people what it looks like to live as His followers. He talked about loving our enemies, doing good to those who hate us, blessing those who curse us, and praying for those who mistreat us. He taught them to be merciful, to forgive, and to examine their own hearts.

Those aren't always the things we naturally want to do.

But that is what makes the question in verse 46 so important. Jesus wasn't asking whether they had heard Him. They had. He wasn't asking whether they admired Him. They may have. He was asking why they called Him Lord if they were unwilling to do what He said.

And that question reaches me too.

Why do I call Him Lord?

Not simply when I need something. Not simply when I want a blessing. Not simply when I need Him to make something better. I want to follow Jesus because He is worthy of being followed.

That means when His Word tells me something I don't want to hear, I need to listen. When He points me in a direction I wouldn't have chosen, I need to trust Him. When obedience costs me something, I need to remember that He is still Lord.

Jesus isn't asking me to simply wear His name.

He is calling me to follow Him—
Not just in word, but in life.

Before You Go

Maybe this Scripture made you stop and think about your own reasons for following Jesus. If it did, don't use it as a reason to beat yourself up. Use it as an opportunity to look toward Him.

Following Jesus isn't about having everything figured out. It is about knowing who He is and continuing to follow Him. There will be times when obedience is difficult, times when you don't understand what He is doing, and times when your own desires pull you in another direction.

When those moments come, remember that Jesus isn't simply asking for your attention. He is worthy of your life.

So today, don't just call Him Lord.

Follow Him.