“But set apart Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to make an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV).
One way to define the Christian’s distinctiveness is to say that he has made Christ “Lord” of his heart. When he turned away from his sins, confessed his faith, and was baptized into Christ, the Christian began to follow a new leadership. Regardless of who previously directed his life, he now sees Christ as the determining factor in every aspect of his character and conduct.
This is what Peter had in mind when he said that we should “set apart Christ as Lord” in our hearts. Although no longer as familiar as it was in the first century, the concept of “dominion” is extremely important. The word “Lord” means “master” or “one who has authority,” but in the case of Jesus Christ the word is omnipresent. For Christians, Jesus Christ has All rights. There is nothing about the Christian’s life over which the will of Christ does not rule – from the innermost thoughts of his heart to the most outward aspects of his behavior. No step is taken until he is confident that Christ approves of it.
Paul put it this way: “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17). And this principle does not just apply to the “religious” aspect of life or “church” activities. This applies to everything Christians do in public and in private.
Peter said that Christ is to be set apart as Lord “in your hearts.” If the Christian has not made his contribution first, he fights a losing battle against sin. Heart To Jesus Christ. It is only when Christ is given control over our most personal Thinking That progress starts happening.
This decision to “set apart Christ as Lord” is the main component of conversion to Christ. The changes occurring on the “outside” of our lives are the result of changes on the “inside”: our thoughts are now under the rule of Jesus Christ. but living Continuous There is a need for growth under the lordship of Christ. we have to learn to give up our hearts completely In his direction. At our baptism, we are just beginning to learn how to make Christ our Lord.
“If you want Christ as an eternal guest, give him all the keys of your heart; let not one cupboard be shut from him; give him the door of every room and the key of every chamber” (Charles Hayden Spurgeon).
Gary Henry – WordPoints.com AreYouaChristian.com
