Verse of the Day Devotion: Luke 6:46

“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” – Luke 6:46

This is a fair question brought forth by Jesus.  Especially when we look at what the word Lord actually means.  According to Strong’s Greek dictionary, the word translated ‘Lord’ in this passage is the Greek word ‘Kurios’ which means ‘that which is supreme in authority’.  Anyone who is rightly designated Kurios by someone is essentially the owner of that person and their property; the one who has control of the person.”  Jesus affirmed His lordship when He said to the disciples at the last supper, “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.”  John 13:13.

Therefore, Jesus is rightly our Lord.  Everything we are and have are His.  If we believe He is our Lord, then we are to completely obey Him in everything.  Now, if we call Him Lord and we do not obey, or as the focus verse says, do not do what He says, then do we really believe He is Lord?  We cannot believe He is Lord and go about our business ignoring what He has said.

Actually, whatever or whoever we listen to and obey other than Jesus, is who we designate as Lord.  For instance, Jesus said that we are to love our enemies.  “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Matthew 5:44.  If we do not love our enemies and our persecutors, we are obeying someone else other than Jesus.  Whoever we obey here is our lord here.  And what about this one, you will not steal?  Jesus upheld this when He listed this in His answer to the rich young ruler.  “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; you shall not commit; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness”. Matthew 19:18. So, if we steal something, we are not following Jesus, but another whom you are obeying.

We need to examine ourselves and see if we are following Jesus in every aspect of our lives.  Yes, there will be times when we fail in this, however, if we see it as a regular practice, this can be trouble.  Consciously disobeying Him should make us examine whether He truly is our Lord.  And if it is not Jesus, then who is it.  Is it ourselves?  In conclusion, Jesus said the following, “But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”  Luke 6:49. We cannot stand if He is not Lord.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.