Jesus is Lord

“‘For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one accord.  From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshippers, the daughter of My dispersed ones, shall bring My offering....  Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the lame, and gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame in every land where they were put to shame.  At that time I will bring you back, even at that time I gather you; for I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I return your captives before your eyes,’ says the Lord.”

Zephaniah 3:9-10, 3:19-20 NKJV



What does ‘Jesus is Lord’ mean to me?

Normally if you asked me this question, I would start talking about loving submission, how Christ is the king and captain of my albeit rather fragmented life.  Or at least, how I like to think He is, even if my actions don’t always follow through on this.

And then last night a friend text me - read Zeph 3:17, I believe it is for you.  Somewhat skeptically I did and, embarrassing though it is to admit, it was the gorgeous imagery of the passage that made me read the verses either side of it rather than any sense of the divine.  Yet as I read on and saw how God talked about the future nation of Israel, saying how He will one day restore them and elevate them beyond anything they have ever been, I was struck by something.



God has the authority to do this.



I enjoy the poetic style of many of God’s prophecies (the author and perfector of my faith* is a writer too).  Yet as I put aside the surface imagery and stopped to actually think what God was saying, it occurred to me that whatever grand proclamations we might make or the well-meaning but ultimately empty promises we make, God has the authority to carry out whatever He proclaims.



Whatever God says He will do, He will do.  He has the power and the authority to carry out any action, be it gathering up a dispersed nation, rising from the dead or simply guiding me through day to day living.  Jesus is Lord; sometimes I get so caught up in Jesus is Love that I neglect His sovereignty. 

*Hebrews 12:2