"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:"

The world is looking for a Savior, not a Lord. The New Testament makes it clear that a Savior who isn't also Lord isn't a friend or a Savior. If the Old Testament taught us anything, it's that God's laws, which sometimes seem strange, were not written to amuse Him but to protect His people. This week, let's not just say that Jesus is Lord. Let's also live in a way that shows that He is in charge of our lives and that His Spirit makes us who we are.

Juan Carlos Ortiz criticized European and American evangelists more than 30 years ago for preaching a "carrot-stick gospel" that was more about the reward than the lordship of Jesus. Jesus tells us, especially in Matthew 7, that grace doesn't mean we don't have to be disciples, and mercy doesn't mean we don't have to truly repent. We gladly accept the grace that God gives us through Jesus, and we really let Jesus rule our lives. It's not a case of either/or, but a call from God to do both. We are saved by God's grace, and we obey Jesus as Lord. Because God took us in and made us part of His family, we obey and serve Him. We don't do good things to earn salvation. Instead, we do them to thank and honor God for being so good to us and saving us through His mercy and grace (Ephesians 2:8-10).

The majority rule!" That is the democratic decree. This has been a fortunate political ideology for many individuals throughout history. However, "majority rule" does not apply to God's Kingdom. The standard is set by God, not by us. The objective is God's holiness, not simply being better than someone else. Unfortunately, most will never find the path of the Lord. They want everything done their way. One major issue with having things our way is that it leads to ultimate tragedy. The only one who can determine the agenda for life is God, the Creator and Sustainer of all life. Let us seek His assistance and advice for our journey!

The world is looking for a Savior, not a Lord. The New Testament makes it clear that a Savior who isn't also Lord isn't a friend or a Savior. If the Old Testament taught us anything, it's that God's laws, which sometimes seem strange, were not written to amuse Him but to protect His people. This week, let's not just say that Jesus is Lord. Let's also live in a way that shows that He is in charge of our lives and that His Spirit makes us who we are.