Jesus is not like everyone else. And Christianity is not just another version of what every other religion teaches. The major world religions make fundamentally different claims about God, salvation, and who Jesus is. You cannot read the New Testament and conclude that Jesus is simply one spiritual teacher among many. He is not presented as one option on a list. He is Lord of all.
So let me ask you a question. What if we came to church, stripped away everything else, and simply sat and reflected on Jesus as Lord? Would that be enough? Would that thrill you? Would it move you? Would it fill you with joy and peace for the week ahead? Would it make you kinder, gentler, more patient, and more honest?
Because think about what Scripture says about our relationship with Him.
We put on Christ. Our life is hidden with Him in God. He calls us His own. He knows us like a shepherd knows his sheep. He invites us to bring Him our burdens. He doesn't merely stand outside us and tell us how to live; Christ lives in us. And as we behold His glory, He transforms us into His image, from glory to glory.
The Lord who rules over all creation calls us His children. The One before whom every knee will bow has given His life to save us. And the One who will one day present us faultless before His glorious presence promises to be with us forever.
If reflecting on that doesn't stir our hearts, maybe we need to stop and consider whether we've truly grasped who Jesus is.
So come to church faithfully. Fellowship with one another intimately. Pray fervently. Sing joyfully. Listen to the Word intently and obey it eagerly.
Knowing and celebrating that Jesus is Lord doesn't change what we do at church. It changes why we do it. We aren't just going through religious motions. We're responding to the glory, goodness, and greatness of the One who has made us His own.
And that why matters deeply to God.
As Jude 24 says, He is the One “able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.”
