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Luke

Luke 
Day 
Day 81

Luke 6:39-49 ; Matthew 7:21-27 (Review Luke 6:20-49) "RECOGNIZING THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS"

Day 81 – Luke 6

Text: Luke 6:39-49 ; Matthew 7:21-27 (Review Luke 6:20-49)

RECOGNIZING THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS

A true Disciple will recognize who Jesus really is. He will recognize and own Him as “Lord” (Luke 6:46). Once Simon Peter only recognized Jesus as “Master” (Luke 5:5). He respected Jesus as a “Master-Teacher”. This is not wrong in itself, but the loftier term is “Lord”. Before too long, Peter submitted to the Lordship of Jesus when he saw a miracle performed before his very eyes. Jesus caused a great draught of fish to be caught in the fishermen’s net (Luke 5:8-9).

REJECTING MERE VERBALIZATION OF THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST

The “lordship” of Jesus can sometimes be misunderstood and misapplied. Jesus was conscious of the fact that a person can merely “verbalize” his confession of His lordship. He discounts this attempt as vain. He rejects the mere verbalization of His lordship as valid.

The paying of lip service is a problem that confronts us today. Many profess that they believe and own Jesus as Lord. This problem was also very real in the days of Jesus. In fact this problem was there in the days of Isaiah.

We read of this problem of an outward display of faith in this portion of Scripture, written by the prophet Isaiah,

“Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths
And honour Me with their lips,
But have removed their hearts far from Me,
And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men…”
Isaiah 29:13

Discipleship involves owning Jesus as Lord. Discipleship is NOT just having the head filled with gems of wisdom from the lips of the Master-Teacher. Discipleship goes beyond the ability to articulate doctrines accurately, important though that may be. True Discipleship ultimately is practising what Jesus taught. It is living out one’s faith in Christ!

The mere confession of Jesus as “Lord” avails little. It is the “doing of things” that Jesus taught that amounts to anything in His sight (Luke 6:46).

THE TESTING OF THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR FAITH

As Jesus was tested (Luke 4:1-13), so must every Disciple expect to be tested in life. The very foundations of his faith will be severely tested. The storms of life will verify the type of foundations he has laid in his life.

The foundations of a house may be invisible to the naked eye. However, the testing of the life of the individual will be such that only the true Disciple will be able to survive the testings that will come in life. Every disciple is forewarned. If he is wise, he will also seek to be forearmed. He must examine his foundational faith. Does he indeed possess a faith that will weather any storm that will rage against the house he has built?

If the storms of life indeed break upon the house that we have built, would that house suffer great damage? Would the house we have built be demolished by the storms of life? (Have we not known of people who are no longer with Jesus because of setbacks and problems in life? Are we in danger of losing our faith in the Lord one day?)

CHECKING OUR FOUNDATIONS

Here is a summary of the things that Jesus taught His Disciples (Luke 6). This is a useful list of things that can help us check our foundation of faith. Let us soberly, carefully and prayerfully, examine our faith against these teachings:-

1. What does our faith really mean to us?
Are we prepared to suffer for the sake of our faith in Jesus? Are we prepared to suffer poverty, hunger, sadness and even hatred from hostile people, all for the sake of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? (Cf. Luke 6:20-23).

What does it mean when we are not willing to suffer anything for the sake of the Lord Jesus?

2. Are we really experiencing the transforming work of God in our life?
Are we taking what Jesus taught to heart? Are we praying that the Lord would so change us that we will be able to love even our enemies? (Cf. Luke 6:27-38).

What does it mean when our hearts are filled with anger and hatred, even though our minds are filled with the teachings of Jesus?

3. How well trained are we as Disciples?
Are we seeking to be “perfectly trained” by the Lord? Are we fully aware of being poorly instructed in our faith? (Cf. Luke 6:39-42).

What does it mean when we are guilty of being judgmental and condemnatory in our attitudes towards people?

4. What kind of fruit are we bearing?
If indeed a tree is known by its fruit, what kind of fruit are we evidencing in our life? (Cf. Luke 6:43-45)

What does it mean when we bear no fruit in our life? What does it mean when we bear “bad fruit” in our life?

5. Are we “doers” or “hearers only”? (James 1:22)
Jesus emphasized the practice of faith as genuine proof of true salvation. Does our life exhibit the fact that we are consciously seeking to live out our faith in Christ? (Cf. Luke 6:46-49).

What does it mean when we speak only of a verbal confession of faith, but no reality in terms of keeping the teachings of Jesus?

Let us take heed of what Jesus warned as He concluded this particular set of teachings. “But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:49