Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?”

Do you suppose Jesus could be any more clear if he tried? Why do you say that I am your Lord and then you don’t do what I tell you to do? The obvious emphasis here is on obedience. Jesus was called Rabbi during his earthly ministry, a title in Jewish society which means ‘teacher’. His entire ministry was about taking people from the letter of the law into the practical application of the law. The law says ‘do not commit adultery’. So a man might think if he didn’t have sexual relations with a woman other than his wife then all was well. But Jesus taught the more practical application: if you even lust after her in your heart, you have violated the heart of the law’. Knowledge is potential, nothing more. If knowledge is not applied, it benefits nobody. When Jesus told us to ‘follow’ him, that act of following is simply the application of all that he taught. Jesus never intended for us to spend all our time seated at his feet. It is through the doing that change occurs. It is through the doing that faith grows because we see the results of our applied knowledge.

Pray: “Lord Jesus, forgive me all the times I claimed to be your servant and then failed to do as you commanded. I know that obedience is essential not to your well-being but my own. My obedience leads to my growth, my blessings, my increase and my favor. You are worthy to be believed and obeyed. Help me to grow my faith through the prompting of your Holy Spirit whenever the question of obedience comes up. My life is yours, Lord, for all that you did for me and all you continue to do. You deserve nothing less but all of me. Thank you, my Savior – Amen