Obedience Begins With Recognising Christ as Lord
Biblical obedience begins with understanding who Jesus truly is. He is not merely a teacher, prophet, healer, miracle worker, or religious figure. While He is all of these things, He is infinitely more. Jesus is the Son of God, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, and the rightful ruler over all creation.
Key-Point: Recognising Christ’s Lordship: The Starting Point of Obedience.
Many people are willing to accept Jesus as Saviour because they desire forgiveness, peace, and eternal life. However, the Bible calls us not only to receive Him as Saviour but also to submit to Him as Lord. Salvation and Lordship cannot be separated. The Christ who saves us is also the Christ who rules over us.
This is why understanding who Jesus is becomes so important.
Proverbs 9:10 NKJV
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Notice that Scripture links knowledge of the Holy One with understanding. True spiritual understanding begins when we gain a revelation of God’s nature, character, authority, and holiness.
Key-point: The more we understand who Christ is, the more willing we become to obey Him.
In many areas of life, people struggle to obey instructions they do not understand or trust. Likewise, spiritual obedience becomes difficult when our understanding of Christ is shallow or superficial. However, as our knowledge of Him grows, our confidence in Him grows. As our confidence in Him grows, our trust deepens. As our trust deepens, obedience becomes a natural response.
This explains why mature believers are often able to obey God even when His instructions do not seem logical from a human perspective. Their obedience is not based merely on understanding circumstances. It is based on knowing the One who gave the instruction.
They trust His wisdom because they know His character.
They trust His leadership because they know His Lordship.
The Apostle Paul gives us a powerful picture of Christ’s authority.
Philippians 2:9-11 NKJV
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
The title “Lord” is not merely a religious label. It speaks of authority, ownership, rulership, and supreme power.
Jesus is Lord over heaven and earth.
Jesus is Lord over nations and kingdoms.
Jesus is Lord over time and eternity.
Most importantly, He must become Lord over our lives.
When a person comes to Christ, they are no longer living independently according to their own desires, ambitions, opinions, and plans. Their life now belongs to Him.
This truth is clearly stated in Scripture.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
The phrase, “You are not your own? For you were bought at a price,” must become deeply settled in your heart as a believer of Christ Jesus.
Modern culture and society teaches self-ownership. It encourages people to live however they choose, follow their own truth, and pursue whatever desires seem right to them. The kingdom of God teaches something very different.
Because of the sacrifice of Jesus, we no longer belong to ourselves.
We were purchased by His blood.
We are His possession.
Our lives belong to Him. Our bodies belong to Him. Our gifts belong to Him. Our resources belong to Him. Our future belongs to Him.
Everything we have and everything we are ultimately belongs to Christ.
King David understood this principle well. Although he was one of the most powerful kings in Israel’s history, he recognised that everything under his authority ultimately belonged to God.
1 Chronicles 29:14 AMP
“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You.”
-David understood that he was not an owner. He was a steward.
He recognised that every resource, every victory, every opportunity, and every blessing had originated from God.
He continued this thought in:
1 Chronicles 29:16 AMP
“O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy Name, it is from Your hand, and is all Your own.”
This perspective transforms the way we as believers live.
When we understand Christ’s Lordship, we stop asking, “What do I want to do with my life?”
Instead, we begin asking, “Lord, what would You have me do?”
We stop viewing our possessions as our own and begin viewing them as resources entrusted to us by God.
We stop treating our talents as tools for self-promotion and begin using them for His glory.
We stop seeing ourselves as owners and begin seeing ourselves as stewards;
- We become stewards of our families.
- Stewards of our finances.
- Stewards of our careers.
- Stewards of our influence.
- Stewards of our spiritual gifts.
- Stewards of every responsibility God has entrusted to us.
Obedience flows naturally from this reality: When Jesus is truly recognised as Lord, obedience is no longer viewed as an inconvenience, a burden, or a restriction. It becomes the appropriate response to His authority and love.
The believer who understands Lordship does not obey merely because they have to.
-They obey because they belong to Him.
-They obey because they trust Him.
-They obey because they recognise His rightful authority over every area of life.
Christ has redeemed us through His precious blood. Therefore, every believer is called to live under His Lordship, submit to His authority, and faithfully steward everything He has entrusted to them. Genuine obedience begins when we recognise that Jesus is not simply our Saviour, but also our Lord.
Summary
Obedience begins with recognising Christ as Lord. Many people accept Jesus as Saviour because they want forgiveness, deliverance, victory over enemies, and peace, but true biblical obedience flows from understanding His authority. When you know who Jesus is the Son of God, the King of kings, the One exalted above every name, obedience becomes a willing response, not a burden. Scripture teaches that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and that knowing Him produces understanding. As your revelation (spiritual understanding) of Christ grows, your trust deepens, and obedience becomes natural. You realise your life is not your own because you were bought with a price. Everything you have belongs to Him. This shifts your mindset from ownership to stewardship. You begin asking, “Lord, what would You have me do?” Obedience becomes the fruit of love, trust, and surrender. When Jesus is truly Lord, obedience is the only fitting response.
Altar call: For anyone reading this article who is not saved and wants to be part of the family of God or you want to re-dedicate your life back to Jesus, please repeat this out loud. “Lord Jesus, I believe You died for my sins and rose again. I turn from my old ways and ask You to forgive me. Come into my heart, be my Lord and Saviour. Fill me with Your Spirit and help me live for You. Thank You for saving me, in Jesus Name. Amen“
Prayer: Holy Spirit, please remove from my life every root of disobedience and stubbornness to God’s Word and His ways, in Jesus Name
Feast of Light Word Ministry
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