Lord of All?

"Nope.  He is not MY Lord!" some will say.  At least for now.

Let's define the term.  I like Thesaurus.com for this kind of thing.  For each of the many definitions a word typically has, this site offers a list of synonyms.  We will look at some of the common uses of the word "lord", compare their meanings, and then see how they might apply to Jesus Christ.

1)  "Right away my Lord," said the Queen, when her husband beckoned.  The lord is the master.

By her own volition, the long ago Princess vowed to honor the King with her loyal submission, when she married him.  She knew what the rules were and how things might play out for her future, and she took the leap.  Perhaps when they are alone, her wisdom and prudence guides his decision making, but at least in the courts, she surrenders her own will for the sake of the kingdom.

2)  Sir Henry inherited the Baskerville estate and intended his time as Lord of the manor to be good for all the people on the desolate moor.  The lord is a person in charge.

My research (having recently read The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle) taught me that the head of a large family estate in the old English countryside may have held considerable sway over the community.  Not so much because of any official governmental authority, but by the decisions he made with his money.  He would either spend his funds hiring many local people in keeping and improving his house and lands, or he would abandon all responsibility and squander his wealth selfishly.

3)  "At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do."  The lord is a supernatural being worshiped by people.

As the one and only, ultimate, "supernatural being" (notice that the best way we can describe God is by saying he is a "super" one of us?), God should be recognized as Lord, in at least as much as He is both a master, and a person in charge.  But being the one who even created all things "natural" (both the visible and invisible, the Bible tells us) He is way more "lordy" than any simple template of a lord we have ever known.  Yet in Isaiah 29:16 we see reference to how we made-of-clay people rebel against this Lord.

You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, “You did not make me”? Can the pot say to the potter, “You know nothing”?

4) The most personal, and the most important decision you or I will ever make relates to lordship.  Some one or some thing will have and keep your attention all of your life.  It might be a spouse or a lover, or some political or sports hero.  It may be a hobby or important task that holds your devotion.  Most likely, the object of your undying support is...you.  Only one person ever born was not absolutely self centered, and it wasn't me or you.  While Jesus even gave up His throne in heaven to be born as a human baby, only to lay down his life for us, we resist, and refuse to give up our petty dreams and even acknowledge that He is both Lord and God.  This Lord is the master, in charge, and the supernatural being worthy of our worship.

 Then he (Jesus) said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 
 
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

John 20:27,28



PS  At the top of this post I noted that "at least for now" some will deny the Lordship of Christ.  But Romans 14:11 reveals in the New Testament, quoting the Old, that

It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”

Far better to make the free choice now, than to wait and make the grudging (and vain) admission later.






By the way...MILLERWRITES copy is COPYRIGHTED. Why cut and paste when you can simply copy the link?

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting January 21st on Proverbs 21:1-5

January 21;  Proverbs 21  Verses 1-5

[Please note: The first two paragraphs below are repeated each day for new readers.  My amateur comments are offered below the verses from Proverbs.]

Christians looking for a simple way to review the Bible regularly, have long been convenienced by the fact that the book of Proverbs has 31 chapters, the same number as most of our months.  Each chapter includes multiple bite-sized verses (uhm, proverbs) and can be read through simply in one sitting, one appropriately numbered chapter per day through the month.  A person might read through the Proverbs a chapter a day during any month, but why mess with your head (reading an extra chapter on one, two, or three days!) like that when there are 7 months every year perfectly suited for the endeavor?

My idea here is to reprint about 1/7 of the verses from each day's chapter throughout this year, every time a 31 day month pops up, and then offer a few comments from The Barking Owl.  So in January, we will get through the first few verses of every chapter and then in March, the next group, and so on, until December comes around and we can finally get to the last set of verses in each chapter and complete the book's reading.  If you are smarter than I am (is there any doubt?), you will read the whole chapter every day, every 31 day month, and then you will have read the whole book 7 times this year!  By then you are guaranteed to at least be wiser than The Barking Owl , though no one will ever match the wisdom of Solomon!

[All Bible passages are from the NIV, and are copied from www.Biblegateway.com]

Proverbs 21


1 In the LORD's hand the king's heart is a stream of water
   that he channels toward all who please him. 


1) [Yes, this is a new format.  What do you think?]
The king's heart is in the LORD's hand?  Does that mean that the Lord is responsible for everything the king does?  Like a robot's maneuverings follow the will of a controller?  I don't think so.  There is too much sin evidenced by many kings, including many corrupt kings of the ancient divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah.  But, when a King (or any leader, at any level) chooses to exercise his authority as our good God would (when he submits, and essentially PUTS his heart in God's hand), then God uses His given freedom to direct that king's work in a way that is a blessing to the many non-kings who would also submit to God's authority.


If I'm getting too tired to drive, and I relinquish the driver's seat to my wife (I put my whole life in her hands instead of maintaining my own claim), she will channel that car to a good end for both of us.  If I refuse to admit my weakness, and cling to control, we, along with any strangers in the way, will suffer badly.

2  A person may think their own ways are right, 

   but the LORD weighs the heart.

2) We should be more open to the idea that we may be all wet.  There is nothing to fear from God's judgement, until we stubbornly hold that our own judgement is better.  Declaring "I am King of the World!" is only cool if it's true.  (It's not)

3 To do what is right and just

   is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

3) The prophet Samuel had to tell Saul that "to obey is better than sacrifice."  Yes, the sacrificing of animals was an important thing.  For one, it brought home to the folks, just how horrible and gross and ugly and deadening sin is.  But it did not create the positive relationship between God and man that obedience can produce.  And it is a relationship, a personal relationship, that God wants with you.

4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart-

   the unplowed field of the wicked-produce sin.

4) Wow!  How poetically powerful is this verse?  This is another reference to the evil work of pride in our lives.  What corruption grows freely when we are not properly 'taken down a notch'?  Being humbled, and even sometimes humiliated, is better therapy than the building of a rickety and pretentious high self-esteem.

5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit

   as surely as haste leads to poverty.

5) Get rich QUICK scheme anybody?  If only Ralph Kramden and Fred Flintstone had learned this verse!  The writer's of those two TV shows could always get a hit by showing Ralph or Fred jumping into one "can't miss" idea or another!  We loved to laugh at their clear-cut foolishness.  And poor Solomon was never listed in the credits!

PLEASE let me know what you think of the format!