Adonay – The Lord, The Master

ByCarolyn E. Jacobs

Last week, we looked at a name of God that truly is His name, Yahweh. This week, we have another title. Adonay means lord or master.

Words are cheap.

We toss words around without thinking. What does it truly mean for our God to be Lord? And if He is my Lord, what does that imply about me?

I am . . . His servant. According to Paul, His bondservant, a willing slave, permanently committed to His service.

“. . .that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

You’re probably familiar with this verse. Perhaps you followed its instruction when you chose to become a Jesus follower.

As I said, words are cheap. And because of that, a misunderstanding of this verse is responsible for a deadly form of “cheap grace.”

Have you ever heard something along these lines?

Well, he’s not walking with the Lord, but the Bible says if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, you’ll be saved. And he did that when he was a child. So he’s saved. Right?

Romans 10:9 is not a magic incantation! 

So what does it mean? Calling Jesus Lord has to be more than lip service. Because only if He’s truly your Lord and Master is He your Savior.

By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever follows His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says that he remains in Him ought, himself also, walk just as He walked. – 1 John 2: 3-6

May Adonay keep me always mindful of who I am in Him.

 

Similar Posts

  • Father

    This week, we reach the halfway point in the Names of God series. Until now, we’ve focused on the names of the First Person of the Trinity. Next week, we’ll move into the New Testament and focus on the Son. This week, we honor the Father. As we cross from the Old Testament to the…

  • Immanuel

    Today, we begin an exploration of the names of Jesus, and we begin with the promise of his coming. Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel. – Isaiah 7:14 If you’ve grown up in church, that’s…

  • Child

    For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. – Isaiah 9:6a For this week’s name of Jesus, we turn again to Isaiah. Because, despite what Andy Stanley might say, unhitching from the Old Testament is a really bad idea. The Old Testament adds depth and context, an understanding of God’s…