We encountered a powerful passage on Sunday in our ABFs.
Jesus asks us one question that we cannot escape.
Luke 6:46 Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you?
I have been praying for you. I’m praying that this passage will impact all of us powerfully. I have pondered a few answers to the penetrating question Jesus asks.
Jesus asks : Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you?
We answer: I’m around church people all the time and we all call you Lord. I suppose there is a social pressure on me to say the right thing and make the right gestures. But now that you mention it I guess it is only a social mask. I’m not really willing to go deeper with you when I am not with the church crowd.
We answer: Because, Jesus, I can call you Lord and I would love to leave the whole death and afterlife thing to you. I don’t so much want you to mess with my life here and now. I want to make my own choices about what I’ll do. But go ahead and be a good Lord and get me to Heaven when it’s time.
We answer: Saying the right thing is easy and quick. Doing the right thing is demanding and long-term hard.
We answer: I’m really into looking right (on the surface) and sounding right (while I’m in church). I really do not want Jesus messing around in my life.
Now what?
Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. Luke 6:47-48.
Ask Jesus to open up your foundation (your heart, your soul, your everything) to his living presence in his word. He will answer your prayer.