Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope. 1 Timothy 1:1
More than 30 years before Paul wrote the words in our text, he was temporarily blinded by a bright light on the road to Damascus. As he huddled in the dust, he had his first encounter with Jesus, and in the shock of recognition, he acknowledged that same Jesus as his Lord. He then asked his famous question that defined the rest of his life: ‘Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?’ Transformed from a destroyer of Christians into a maker of disciples, Saul of Tarsus entered a life so amazing he could never have imagined it a half hour before. All because of One he now accepted as his Lord.
In our text, Paul refers to his apostleship as a commandment. It was not optional, or highly recommended even, it was a task that must be obeyed. Paul frequently referred to himself as a bondslave of Jesus Christ. It was a servitude that he entered into willingly, wholeheartedly, and without any reservations of any kind. He knew what the title ‘Lord’ meant, and he acknowledged that title absolutely. Do we know what that title means?
These days, the title ‘Lord’ is often considered just another way to refer to God, or to Jesus Christ. But that is not what the title means. Our modern world has lost the sense of authority of this title, a sense that was common a few centuries ago when people who held that title were a very real part of society. To refer to or address a person as ‘Lord’ was to acknowledge that person’s authority, and to submit totally to that person in every way. That is how Paul addressed and submitted to Jesus Christ. That is how we should address and submit to Him too. Our attitude should be that of the Lord Jesus Himself as He declared, ‘I do always those things that please the Father’.
Jesus Christ is our Lord. Exactly what does that mean to us? – Jim MacIntosh
Here is the link to the video of this message: https://youtu.be/Bv_YBZWfP0Q