Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

All of Jesus’s questions are challenging, but this one is immensely confronting. It precedes the parable of the wise and foolish builders in which He challenges us all to build on rock and not sand.

Most of us, who are believers, would immediately place ourselves in the wise category. After all, we have chosen to build our life on the Rock.

Jesus, however, concludes the parable by saying, “…the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation…” (Luke 6:49).

He makes it clear that wisdom is not just revealed in what we believe but also in what we do.

Therefore, the question, “…Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say…”? (Luke 6:46) speaks to the core of our Christian faith.

Clearly, we are saved by faith and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9) and yet Paul wrote: “…If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved…” (Roman 10:9).

Our confession of faith starts with an acknowledgment of His Lordship. So then, why do we fail to acknowledge Him in our daily choices? Why, for instance, do we fear; why are we anxious; why do we doubt?

Maybe we are not as wise as we thought.

Robert