“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?7 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” (Luke 6:46-49)

Jesus is Lord was one of the earliest creeds of the Christian faith. If Jesus is Lord, Caesar is not. Money is not. The approval of our parents, spouse, friends, or society is not. If Jesus is Lord: he is Lord. He commands our respect, our obedience, and our submission to his will because if Jesus is Lord, he is King.

The parable of the two house builders invites the question: on what foundation have you built your hopes, home, and security in this world? On Jesus and his Lordship? Or somewhere else?

As for Jesus’ Lordship: you’ve heard his commands over this past week of devotions from his sermon on the plain: “spend yourselves on behalf of the poor, love your enemies, do not judge or condemn, forgive and give, take the plank out of your own eye first, love the Lord your God with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.”

So: today’s devotion is pretty simple. You likely call Jesus Lord when you pray to him or talk about him: “Lord, Lord.” Do you also treat him as your Lord: bending the knee, building your life in him alone, loving him alone, and doing what he says?