Lord and savior
Day 566, Saturday, Feb. 28
Romans 9:30-10:31
Salvation, according to Paul, is both internal and external; we must both believe and proclaim. “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Today, the word “lord” has little meaning outside of its religious use, but its older use is important in understanding its significance. The first definition provided by the Merriam-Webster dictionary gets to the important points: “a ruler by hereditary right or preeminence to whom service and obedience are due.”
It’s easy for Christians to fall into the trap of wanting Jesus to be their savior without also making him their lord. We can be enthusiastic about the sacrifice of Jesus saving us from our sin and its consequences, but less excited to remember that we owe him service and obedience.
Paul emphasizes that we proclaim with our mouth that Jesus is Lord. It’s also important that we proclaim it with our actions. We don’t just say that Jesus is our Lord—we live as though he is.
As we do this, it’s also important to remember that we have chosen (proclaimed) Jesus as Lord. We offer him service and obedience in response to what he has freely given us, not in an effort to earn his gift.
-Rev. Mark Fleming
Saturday meditation
Psalms 87:1-7
He has founded his city on the holy mountain. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you, city of God: “I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me—Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush—and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’” Indeed, of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her.” The Lord will write in the register of the peoples: “This one was born in Zion.”
As they make music they will sing, “All my fountains are in you.”
Prayer focus
Grant us the will to follow in gratitude.