We recoil from the word “Master”. Its connotation offends us; it suggests that we just might have to bow to someone above us. Hear this word from Jesus, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46 NRSV). The Lordship of Christ is front and center to Christianity. The shortest creedal statement in the NT is “Jesus is Lord”. This had huge implications for Roman emperor worship. Christians believed that Caesar is not Lord, only Jesus is Lord. They confessed and proclaimed “Jesus is Lord!” resulting in great persecution. We seem to want Him as Savior while remaining our own lord. How can we want to use Him and not surrender to His total Lordship over all our thoughts, words and actions? To say “No, Lord” denies our confession; to say “Yes, Lord” affirms it.
