Jesus is Lord, Today

Pause:

Before you start reading this devotional, take a moment to stop what you’re doing, slow down and focus on Jesus. 

Pray and ask him to open your eyes to see as you read the scriptures, and to open your ears to hear as you wait on the leading of the Spirit.

Read:

Matthew 16v13-17: “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴ And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”

Going Deeper:

I love Twitter, because it often links me to an interesting article or an amazing quote. Or to writers, thinkers, leaders, or books that I wouldn’t have heard of otherwise. 

Often 5 minutes on Twitter gives me a dose of inspiration, a thought for the day, a new perspective on the world, or some news about what is happening in it.

This morning, someone I follow tweeted: “Jesus is Lord, today.”

I initially found that tweet a bit contrived. It was probably my own judgey, self-righteousness. But as I read it, I wrote of his tweet as both an example of virtue signaling, and cliché. 

But, I’ve continued to think about it throughout the day.

A well-known phrase about Jesus, applied to the moment we’re living in. Relevant for us, now.

Tonight, I went back to check that I’d gotten the wording right. And I found his tweet after seeing a bunch of other posts and articles that he’d shared throughout the day. But his first post this morning had been: “Jesus is Lord, today.” 

And then I noticed that yesterday, his first tweet of the day had also been: “Jesus is Lord, today.”

And the day before that, and the day before that, and the day before that. As far back as I could see: “Jesus is Lord, today.”

All of a sudden, his tweet took on more substance and gravitas. “Jesus is Lord, today”, whether he posted it for himself or others, is such a helpful truth and reminder for us, always. But particularly during a period of global shaking and uncertainty. 

“Jesus is Lord, today.”

When Jesus speaks to His disciples in Matthew 16, he asks them: “Who do you say that I am?”

At a time like this, it is probably good for all of our souls to daily be reminded that Jesus is our friend. That Jesus loves us. That Jesus died for us. That Jesus is kind, and good, and faithful. That Jesus is the prince of peace. And that He is Lord. That He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, who rules and reigns over all things.

Not Jesus ‘was’, but rather Jesus ‘IS’ Lord.

And whether your “today” is a good or a bad today. An easy or a hard today. A joyful day, or a day of sadness, struggle and lament. Jesus is still Lord. 

So, will we take hold of that truth, and cling to the hope that is inside of it, and let it change the way we face our “today”?

Pray:

Respond to God in prayer by speaking to Him about what stood out to you from this passage this morning.

Listen:

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you this morning?

Apply:

What are you going to do in response to what God is saying to you from the text and by the Spirit?