Lord In Every Circumstance

   Belief in the lordship of Jesus Christ has little power unless it is translated into practical, everyday life. Jesus has been “raised from the dead and seated at the right hand” of the Father in heaven, “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Eph. 1:20-21). The Father has placed “all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (vss. 22-23). The supremacy of Christ as lord and king is emphasized also in Paul’s letter to Colossians where he says “that He Himself will come to have first place in everything” (1:18).

The lordship of Christ is clearly established in Scripture and widely accepted among all those who claim to be followers of Christ. But, bringing the lordship of Christ into everyday practice is a challenge for even the strongest of Christians. Fundamental to meeting this challenge is adopting a life-style that shows that we belong to Jesus and that He is always present in every area of our daily lives.

We belong to Christ (1 Cor. 3:23). All things were created by His power (Jn. 1:3). We were purchased by His redeeming blood (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 1:18-19). Therefore, we are not our own. We belong to Him. We are but stewards of what God has given us. In referencing the offerings presented in sacrifice to God under the Law of Moses, God reminds them that these animals already belonged to the Lord (Ps. 50:10-11). He continues, saying, “the world is mine, and all it contains” (vs. 12). What a change would be made in our lives if we practiced divine ownership! Abraham Kuyper is credited with having said, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!’”

A second challenge which must be met in making the lordship of Christ real in everyday life is to practice the presence of God in every situation. Too often, we live and function as though Christ is present only on Sunday morning when we are gather together for worship. But God is omnipresent (Ps. 139:7-12). Like Jonah the prophet, we cannot flee from the presence of the Lord (Jon. 1:3). Nor can we, like the ancient Israelites, manipulate the presence of God (1 Sam. 4:3). Instead, we must earnestly seek His presence in every circumstance (Ps. 63:1). An everyday reflection of the lordship of Christ might be summarized as follows: “Be present where He is present” (adapted from Jake Mailhot). Since Christ is everywhere present, we must practice His presence in every walk of life. The apostle said it this way: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Ph. 1:21).

Glen Eliot