I got married recently. Made my vows.
The quality of a marriage is not determined by the vows that are made on the wedding day but by a lifetime of intentionality, devoted to living up to the promises made. That ought to be the way we approach salvation as well.
The quality of our faith is not just determined by the prayer that we prayed inviting Jesus to be Lord of our lives. The quality of our faith is also determined by a lifetime of intentionality, devoted to submitting more of my life to the lordship of Jesus.
Lordship for most of us carries a negative connotation. We often see it as restrictive, burdensome and disempowering. But lordship in the Bible speaks about coming under the protection and empowerment of someone greater.
Submitting to Christ’s lordship does not look like becoming a lesser person but being empowered to become more than you ever could be on your own.
“Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” (Psalm 107:8-9)
The promise of God’s lordship is this – when we make Him Lord, He will satisfy us.
We were all created with an intrinsic thirst for God. This thirst is not a by-product of dysfunction but a sign of spiritual life. The issue isn’t whether we have a thirst. The issue is what we have been using to mitigate that thirst to find satisfaction meant only to be fulfilled by the Lord.
How many of us have spent most of our lives living on the assumption that because “I am me”, I ought to know what’s best for me, and by extension, know what ought to satisfy me?
When we realign our lives to God’s ways, we can experience a lasting sense of satisfaction that every human soul needs.
That is where the lordship of Christ comes into play. Submitting to His lordship is saying, I believe that because You created me, and because Your ways are higher than my ways, I choose to submit and realign my perception and inclinations to the way You see things.
I believe the “satisfaction” we have been experiencing, that which we get from earthly things, is fleeting, temporal and often leaves you longing. The satisfaction that Christ promises, will cause us to never thirst again. This satisfaction is not a passing feeling but a state of being.
We will always crave what we have cultivated an appetite for. So when we realign our lives to God’s ways and correct our appetite to crave for what we ought to crave for, we can experience a lasting sense of satisfaction that every human soul needs.
I would like to propose five realignments that would bring us to a greater submission to Christ’s lordship.
5 REALIGNMENTS FOR BETTER SPIRITUAL POSTURE
1. We ought to find satisfaction in the call of God over earthly success
There is a difference between making God a “value-add” in your journey towards success, and making Him the goal of your life. Do we value success over God or – let me put it another way – has success become a “god” to you?
2. We ought to find satisfaction in obedience over popular opinion
What societal or cultural norms are may not always be biblical. Just because everyone is doing it does not make it right. We often refer to Christians who pursue obedience in all areas as radical Christians. But the truth is, Christians today often call “radical” what Jesus expects of every believer.
3. We ought to find satisfaction in reconciliation over retaliation
Social media has made it is easy and convenient to retaliate – being vocal is applauded in society today. But there is a big difference between voicing an opinion and being antagonistic. We are admonished as believers to pick up our cross and follow Jesus. That looks like choosing love in the face of offence and denying ourselves the fleeting “un-Christian” joy of revenge and retaliation.
4. We ought to find satisfaction in freedom over empathy
Empathy is like painkillers. It mitigates the pain but does not address the problem. Many Christians have gotten addicted to empathy and aren’t willing to go through the hard process of attaining freedom. God does not just desire for you to be comforted, He desires for you to be free.
5. We ought to find satisfaction in the presence of God over indulgence
God has given us good gifts to enjoy on the earth. But we have the tendency to turn the good gifts into our good. If the gift is not awakening a sense that God, the Giver, is better than the gift, it is becoming an idol.
I leave you with some questions for self-reflection and discussion:
- What do you typically do to feel satisfied?
- Is there a healthier way to meet that need?
- Do you find it hard to submit to God’s lordship?
- What are some areas that are hard for you to surrender to God?
My prayer is that by faith you will make some adjustments in your appetite, and in doing so, discover a God who satisfies you to such a great measure that you will never thirst again.
Andre is the Lead Pastor of The City, a vibrant church that’s located in the heart of the city. He is a 3rd Year graduate of the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM) where he received training and impartation for revival. Andre is passionate about the church and its role in society.
