Discipleship, Bible, Christian, Studies – C.S. Lewis Institute

Unquestioning Obedience

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46).

Obedience from the heart is the true and unmistakable evidence of the reality of Christ’s lordship in our lives. Disobedience vitiates all our professions of loyalty. Our performance speaks more loudly than our professions. The test is not what I say but what I do. Were it not for Calvary’s revelation of the heart of God, we might well fear God’s sovereignty and think His demands tyrannical. Calvary has set that fear to rest once for all.

There was a man in Germany, a village organist, who one day was practicing on the church organ, playing a piece by that master of music Mendelssohn.

He was not playing it very well, and a stranger stole into the church and sat in the dimness of a back pew. He noted the imperfections of the organist’s performance, and when the latter had ceased playing and was preparing to depart, the stranger made bold to go to him and say, “Sir, would you allow me to play for a little?”

The man said gruffly, “Certainly not! I never allow anybody to touch the organ but myself.”

“I should be so glad if you would allow me the privilege!”

Again the man made a gruff refusal. The third time the appeal was allowed, but most ungraciously.
The stranger sat down, pulled out the stops, and on that same instrument began to play. And, oh, what a difference! He played the same piece, but with wonderful change. It was as if the whole church was filled with heavenly music. The organist asked, “Who are you?”

In modesty the stranger replied, “My name is Mendelssohn.”

“What!” said the man, now covered with mortification. “Did I refuse you permission to play on my organ?”

Let us not withhold any part of our lives from the mastery of Christ. It may be that you are thinking, I recognize Christ’s claim to lordship of my life, and I want to live under His lordship, but my will is so weak. It lets me down at the crucial moment. How can I maintain recognition of His lordship? How can I keep Him on the throne of my life?

Paul anticipated this dilemma when he wrote, “No one can say [“keep on saying” gives the tense of the verb] ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:3; italics added).

The Holy Spirit is sent to enable the disciple to keep Christ on the throne of the believer’s life, and He delights to do it. He will detach our hearts from the world and attach our affections to Christ. He will empower our weak wills and make them strong to do the will of God.

Other lords have long held sway,
Now Thy name alone to hear,
Thy dear voice alone obey,
Is my daily, hourly prayer
Let my heart be all Thine own,
Let me live to Thee alone.
(F.R. Havergal)