Aimee  – January  2025 

On the theme of Spiritual heath –

(Friends, this feels like gospel ABCs, but it’s essential, and perhaps the unpacking will set someone free today )

It’s common to hear of folks who have met God as their saviour and accepted Him into their hearts but have yet to make Him the Lord of their lives.

 

They try to live a good life but find themselves tripping over the same old stumbling blocks that have tripped them up before. Now, since salvation, there might be a greater conviction weight that falls on them when they sin, but complete freedom doesn’t come, and their minds and lives cycle the same old thoughts and struggles they have always had. Cycles of dysfunction reoccur, and usually, after a series of difficult circumstances and challenges, they find themselves asking why it is so hard and wondering why not much is changing for them completely discouraged.

 

I want to suggest that a big part of the stumbling here is due to not understanding the connection and distinction between Jesus as Saviour, and Jesus as Lord.

 

So, here’s the breakdown, I hope it helps!!

 

By grace through faith, we are saved! Hallelujah!! Redeemed – called a child of God and adopted into His family. This is what the cross does for you.

 

But who is He to you?

Jesus is our saviour; He rescues us from sin and grants eternal life. Accepting the gift of the cross is primarily about grace and faith…

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

This highlights Jesus as the one who saves us from sin and gives us eternal life. It is His finished work.

 

Romans 5:8-9- ” But God demonstrates His love for us in this: Christ died for us while we were still sinners.”

The concept of Jesus as our saviour says more about who He is and testifies to His love and compassion for us than anything else. If we stop here, we miss the point of this life lived as Christ’s followers.

 

“Christian” means, after all – one who follows Christ. To follow someone – you must let them lead!

Luke 2:11 expands on His identity, as saviour is only a part of who God is – Here, we are introduced to the fullness of Jesus.

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”

See, our saviour is also Lord of all – Jesus has supreme authority over all aspects of life and as Lord, Jesus demands our submission and obedience, bringing our transformation and freedom.

 

So, can we be saved without accepting Jesus’ Lordship over our lives? What is Lordship anyway?

 

Romans 10:9-10 ESV…”because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

Lordship denotes the authority and standing of Jesus in the context of our life. To acknowledge the Lordship of Christ requires more than words but actions – His Lordship demands our submission, it requires our deference to His leadership and is part of salvation.

God requires us to back up our confession with action – faith without works is, after all, dead! We see in Luke 6:46 that Jesus confronts those who confessed His Lordship but didn’t live it out.

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”

Here, Jesus sets the standard of obedience and highlights the inconsistency of the situation in Luke. Being called “Lord” but not given the respect due to the “Lord “showed doublemindedness at play.

 

He is clear in Matthew 16:24 of the expectation.

“Then said Jesus unto His disciples, if any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

To know Him as Lord, to be a Christ follower after Him, requires surrendering our own will, desires, habits, lifestyles, and submitting to discipleship under Jesus as Lord, which looks like following Him where He leads.

Scripture even goes as far as to define the proof of our Love of God under the expression of our obedience and submission to Him.

If you love me, you will obey my commands. John 14-15 / John 14-21

That’s a big call!! The proof of your love is weighed up on your ability and willingness to obey Him.

 

As Savior, He rescues us from sin and grants eternal life. It is about grace and faith and speaks of His great love for us.

As Lord, He requires our submission, obedience, and then, transformation. It reflects His authority over every part of our lives and us living lives that place Him in the seat of Lord, and all that entails – is proof of our love for Him.

 

Practically – salvation is a gift freely given, to be transformed and live a life that is full to overflow with God’s goodness and in His promises, however, it requires something of us. We need to posture so that we listen, learn and obey.

 

He loves us so much that He intends to break us free from all that entangles, enslaves and binds us. The limiting beliefs, behaviours that harm us and our loved ones, and lies we believe about ourselves. If we knew how to do that of our own accord, we wouldn’t need a saviour. We need His guidance to get free and His wisdom is only effective to us when embraced and followed in the same way medicine left in the bottle won’t cure a patient; it must be acted on.

 

See, saved doesn’t equal free … there is a journey to becoming, and it starts with placing God in the seat of the LORD of your life.

 

So, the question is –

Who is He to you?

What seat have you given God in your life.

Does your life reflect what your tongue confesses?

 

Hard questions, yes. But necessary ones. Here’s some more to help you gauge where you are at. Ask yourself –

 

1. Do I Acknowledge Jesus as Lord in My Decisions?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Do you go to scripture and pray for guidance in your daily choices, or do you rely solely on your own understanding?

 

2. Do I Obey Jesus’ Commands Consistently?

“If you love Me, keep My commands..” (John 14:15)

We aren’t just talking about the 10 commandments here but all of Christ’s teachings. Do you obey, or is there areas of compromise where your flesh wins out over what you know is holy? Do you obey at the cost of comfort or convenience?

 

3. Is Christ the Centre of My Priorities?

But seek first His kingdom and His Righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)

Does your schedule, energy, and resources reflect that Jesus is your top priority? Are you more likely to bump your time with Him to make room for other things, or does He take precedence . This call actually comes with an amazing promise – that when you put God first – He then adds everything else to you- why would you bump Him down the list?

 

4. Am I Actively Growing in Faith and Holiness?

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)

Are you intentionally growing in your relationship with Christ through prayer, Bible study, and fellowship? Knowledge comes from hearing and hearing the word of God. This is about your intentionality. How has your growth been over a 12mnth space? Do you see improvement?

 

 

5. Do I Submit My Will to God’s Will?

“Not my will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42)

Are you willing to lay aside your desires and plans to follow God’s purpose for your life? Will you surrender that thing you’re holding onto so tight, to Him and trust Him with the outcome? Is there an area where of your life, yourself, past, present or future that you refuse to invite God into? Why?

 

6. Do I See My Life as Fully Belonging to Christ?

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1)

Do you view your time, talents, and resources as belonging to God for His glory? There’s such freedom in shifting to the perspective of “All I am is yours, Lord” It takes your life and makes it clay to be moulded by His hand … having this outlook will unlock you!

 

7. Do I Resist Sin and Pursue Righteousness?

Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. (Romans 6:12)

Is there evidence in your life of resisting sin and striving to live a life that honours God? So often, in our seeking to self soothe or find comfort in discomfort, we chase sin and let its voice be loudest – we are so familiar with its voice that temptation easily entices – but if we pursue holiness over comfort, we find freedom – Resist the devil, and he flees! Building muscle to maintain holy choices when tempted is a task that requires persistence and repetition like any muscle building program. You were given free will, temptation doesn’t overpower your right to choose so exercise it to support a holy life, not a sinful one.

 

8. Do I Share Christ with Others?

Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28:19)

Are you actively sharing the gospel with others, reflecting your recognition of Christ’s Lordship over the Great Commission? I’m talking less about Foreign Missions and Street Corner Preaching (although they have their place) and more about being a walking, talking heart of the Father to those in your world. When people encounter you, is the fruit of the Holy Spirit evident? Are you loving, gracious, honest, courageous, patient, forgiving, and wise? How are you known? Do others see God in you?

 

9. Do I Trust God in Difficult Times?

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Do you demonstrate trust in God during trials, or do you take matters into your own hands? “All things work for the good of those who love” – if we love, then we obey, if we love, fear is far from us as His perfect love casts out fear.

* A note here – Friend, it’s almost impossible to love someone you don’t trust, and trust requires a certain level of intimacy. If Trust is something you’re struggling with – it’s found in seeking intimacy first. Get to know His heart for you and watch your ability to trust flourish.

 

10. Do I Live with an Eternal Perspective?

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2)

Do your choices and priorities reflect a focus on eternal values rather than temporary worldly goals? Friend, do you store your treasures in heaven? Life here is vapour.

 

 

*Reflection Questions:

If you find that Christ is only your Savior, what steps can you take to surrender fully to His Lordship?

Are there areas of your life (e.g., relationships, finances, career) where you still hold control?

 

To place God on the throne in our lives as Lord is to step into a radical upgrade of everything you’ve known before.

It’s not easy to die to deny yourself control (especially if your story, like so many, holds pain), but God has given you the free will to choose.

We are either slaves to our flesh, our humanity and our limited understanding or we are transformed into the new creation He intends us to be.

Not to be a clique, but “Jesus take the wheel “is where life begins. 

When we make Him not just our Saviour but our Lord – freedom comes, and sin loses its grip.

Matthew 10:39 – If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.

 

Be blessed,

Aimee

Bold Existence Team