Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)
It never ceases to amaze me how many people put Jesus into the category of a “colleague,” someone they work alongside of as they go through life. Now, inasmuch as we do indeed work and serve alongside our Lord Jesus, He is in no way our colleague. Jesus is not our equal. He is not a peer. Jesus is not someone we can criticize or ignore of offer suggestions to. Jesus is Lord, and He sits on the throne of our lives to rule and to reign, to guide and to govern, to direct and to discipline us. We are never in a position to pass judgment on our Lord, because His ways are perfect and He is in control of everything in the universe, including every detail of our little lives.
What are the “red flags” that will help you recognize that you have relegated Jesus to the category of colleague? Take a look at how you receive His Word as it speaks into every area of your life. Do you take Jesus at His Word? Or do you only receive the parts that you like and that make sense to you? If you see Christ as your colleague, there will be times when you will question His wisdom and refuse to follow where He is leading you. If Jesus is truly Lord in our lives, we will follow everything He has said, no questions asked, and that includes those times when we do not understand what He is doing in our lives.
When Christ is on the throne of your life, you hold nothing back. You give Him your time. You give Him your talent. You give Him your treasure. You surrender your plans to Jesus. Your surrender your goals to Jesus. You surrender your desires to Jesus. Remember, “surrender” is a battle term. It implies giving up all the rights you think you have to the One who conquered you . . . and His name is Jesus the Christ.
Because Jesus is good all the time, He sought you, caught you, and bought you for one reason only: to bless you in relationship with Him. Let that truth set you free to follow wherever He is leading you . . . not as your “colleague,” but as your conquering King and kindly Commander.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 