Lordship

Lordship is not a topic we hear much about today outside of Christian circles or movies. We don’t have actual kings and lords in the United States of America. We talk more in terms of countries with presidents than we do kingdoms with lords and kings. However, when we do hear the terms “lord” or “lordship,” it may bring up thoughts of someone that’s controlling or bossy. You may have heard things like, “When he got that promotion, he started ‘lording’ it over everyone.” Meaning he became arrogant, prideful or bossy; that perhaps he took his newfound authority and allowed it to permeate through every aspect of his relationships, including those outside of the workplace. I remember a time in school when a friend was voted homecoming queen. The talk around school was that my friend was ‘lording’ it over all of us that she was the queen. Could some of these comments have been rooted in jealousy? Of course. But lordship, or authority, can sometimes be twisted and taken too far in our world.

This is nothing new. The Bible speaks of kings (lords) who had a real place of authority, and yet they didn’t use that authority correctly and for the good of the people. We see that throughout all of history and we see it today, as well. As we begin to read and learn about the Lordship of Jesus Christ and surrendering to the Holy Spirit, we must have the right perspective of what true Lordship, His Lordship, looks like.

The Godhead (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is good. They are always at work for our good. We are loved by them with a perfect, everlasting love and the Bible says in Ephesians 2:10 that “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Our Father in Heaven loves us so much that from the very beginning He made us in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:27) and prepared good things for us to walk in all the days of our lives. He wants us to look like Him and act like Him. He wants a family and He started His first family members (Adam and Eve) off with an amazing blessing.

Genesis 1:28
“28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’”

This is a picture of the Father’s heart for us from the beginning of time, and His LOVE for us will never change. God was the Father with full authority over Adam and Eve, and in His love for them, He gave them a blessing. That blessing was one of authority and dominion over the entire earth. His Lordship over Adam and Eve wasn’t a constricting and harsh lordship. It was a blessing to grow. It was a blessing to look and act like their Father God in the earth. It is the same mandate and blessing that our Father God, our Lord, gives us today. Not only does He give us this mandate and blessing, but He promises us that He will be with us throughout our lives to see us walk successfully in that blessing. Philippians 1:6 tells us “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

What does this have to do with Lordship? If we do not believe that those in authority over us have our best interests at heart, it is really hard to trust them and surrender to their authority. When there is no trust, we become obedient because we have to, and not because we desire to. While it was difficult at times to honor and submit to the authority of my parents as a child, I never questioned their love for me and that they truly wanted to see me prosper in all things. They knew those things that were out there that could cause me harm. They were much wiser than I was (even though I didn’t think so at the time). I might become frustrated or irritated at the rules they set in place, but in that place of frustration, I knew they loved me.

On the other hand, when we are under the authority of cruel taskmasters or bosses that view us only as a work horse for their promotion, their prosperity and their good, it is a miserable place to be. Those rules and laws become oppressive, restrictive and confining because there is no relationship or love there. Compare this to the rules set in place by those who love us and are for our good. Can you feel the difference?

As we journey on, it is imperative that we know that we are loved and that the Lord is not a cruel taskmaster. He loves us and is for us. He wants us to become all He desires us to be. That can only happen when we fully submit to His Lordship (authority) in our lives.

Are you ready? Let’s move on to understand the Lordship of our God.