He’s My Adonai

In 2011 my word of the year was “doulos.” It’s a Greek word usually translated “slave” or “servant.” I wanted to learn what it truly meant to be a servant of Christ. My theme verse that year was Psalm 119:125 (NIV), “I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.”

I’d love to tell you I walked in to 2012 with it all figured out, but other than remembering 2011 was the year I studied “doulos,” I can’t tell you that it changed my life in the least.

The real change came five years later when I read Luke 6:46. A verse I had read a million times, but it finally struck home.

All Jesus did was ask a simple question, but was a question that packed a powerful punch.

He asked, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (NIV).

I called Jesus ‘Lord,’ but had I ever really stopped to understand what that meant? Had I ever even thought about it?

You call Jesus "Lord," but have you ever really stopped to understand what that means? Heather has… Click To Tweet

Who Is Your Lord?

Google defines ‘Lord’ as “someone or something having power, authority, or influence; a master or ruler.” There’s a verse in Matthew that talks about not being able to serve two masters. So I wondered… who did I serve?

One of my favorite Bible verses has always been Galatians 1:10. It says, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ” (NIV).

I am a people pleaser by nature. I want those around me to be happy and I never want to offend anyone. But I have to be careful that caring for others doesn’t cause me to sin against God. When I care more about the people around me than I do about Jesus, that becomes a problem. He stops being my Lord.

My mom wrote a book about the attributes of God, and I love what she wrote about Him being our lord. She wrote, “God expects first place in our lives.  God should be first in your heart, first in your life, and first in your thoughts.  Nothing less will do.  If God is in second place He is not your God.”

Those words are powerful.

Related Post: Jesus Died On The Cross & What That Means To Me

My Adonai

There is a song by Avalon called Adonai that I have always loved. It’s a beautiful song, but it’s easy to miss the meaning in rhythm of the words. God has done amazing things for us that we could never repay Him for. And He doesn’t ask us to. But He does want to be our Lord, our Adonai.

God has done amazing things for us, and He doesn't ask to be repaid. But He does want to be our Lord, our Adonai. Click To Tweet

Too often I fall short of giving Him that place in my life. I call Him ‘Lord’ but don’t do what He says. I am just as guilty as the crowd who crucified Him. I know God’s Word is a solid foundation, but too often I set it aside to live for myself. I become conformed by the world instead of transformed by the Word.

And it breaks my heart.

It breaks my heart that I don’t love Jesus more.

I get overwhelmed by the world and just kind of shut down. I realize how short I fall and instead of falling into Jesus and pressing on in grace, I sit down and pout like a petulant child.

But the truth is, even when I fall short, Jesus is still my Adonai. Regardless of how wretched I am, He is the king of the world.

Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

2 Timothy 2:11-13 (NIV)

The Gift of God

Jesus does want to be the Lord of our lives. He wants to be our Adonai. But the gift of God is that even when we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

Do those words bubble up in your heart like they do in mine? The identity of Jesus isn’t dependent on me. In fact, my identity isn’t dependent on me. Jesus took care of it all.

I love that Jesus is my Adonai, even when I fall short. Even when everything falls apart, He is still Lord.