"Lord, Lord"

So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.” Luke 6:46-49 (NLT)

Here in Luke 6 Jesus says to some of those who have been calling Him Lord, “Why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord! When you don’t do what I say?”

Jesus is addressing those who were just giving Him the lip service, “Lord, Lord”. They had not truly made Him Master of their lives. With their mouth it may have seemed that they believed, but their lives did not reflect the teachings of Christ. We know this is true because He said to them, “you don’t do what I say”. It is not enough to just 'say' we believe in Jesus. Even the demons believe and they tremble with terror. It is not enough to just 'say' we have faith. He wants us to show that we truly believe and have faith in Him by obeying His Word. Calling Jesus Lord is something that anyone can just ‘say’. You see to call Jesus Lord is to call Him our Ruler or Master. To call Him Lord means that we want Him to have authority, dominion, and control over our entire lives. We surrender our lives, our will, and our selfish desires to follow His teaching because we know that His ways are righteous and true. We surrender because He loved us so much that He laid down His life for us. Therefore we trust Him with our lives and lay them down at His feet to do with as He pleases. (James 2:19)

“And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:3-6

In the Gospel of John Jesus says, “If you love Me, obey My commandments.” (John14:15 NLT)

Our obedience to His teachings is for our own good. He says, “I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.” (Luke 6:48 NLT)

When we truly make Jesus Lord of our life and allow His teachings to go down deep into our hearts and take root we will be able to stand firm against the floodwaters of life’s problems, testings, and persecution. His Word will rise up in us and bring us comfort and assurance that He has not forgotten us but that He is with us every step of the way. The Sovereign Lord will be our strength! He will make us as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon heights. We will not be shaken or moved because He has set our feet on the Rock of our Salvation. He becomes our Fortress and Strong Tower then we are able to withstand the floods and the winds that beat against us. We won’t collapse under the pressure because we are standing on the Word of God which is our solid foundation!

However, Jesus said that it is very different for anyone who hears His Word and doesn’t obey. He said they are, “Like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.” How sad to have heard the voice of God and ignore His leading. Ignoring Him only leads to destruction and chaos. Our lives will surely end up a mess and ruined without implementation of His Word.

There are so many people who have heard the teachings of Jesus Christ and have seen His miracles but refuse to submit to Him. They continue to want their own way, enslaved to their sinful nature. They have convinced themselves that they are fine without Him. So they continue on the broad road most commonly taken that sadly leads to hell. It reminds me of what Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death”. (Galatians 5:16 & 19-21)

Brothers and sisters let us truly examine and test ourselves to see if our faith in Christ is genuine or not before it is too late. For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. Each day it is our own choice to decide whether or not we will be doers of the Word or just hearers. But let us remember that it is sin to know what we ought to do and then not do it. (2 Corinthians 13:5, 1 Peter 4:17, James 1:22, 4:17)

Matthew 7:21-23 says, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day MANY will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

Each of us needs to stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old godly way, and walk in it. May we be truly repent for our sins and turn to God so that He may forgive us and wipe away all of our sins. Let obedience to His Word be our number one sacrifice. Let us call out “Lord, Lord” because we desire for Him to teach us His Ways, believe in His commands, and obey His Word. Let us be like the person who built their house on the Solid Rock! (Jeremiah 6:16, Acts, 3:19, 1 Samuel 15:22, Psalm 119:66,11,9)