I well remember leading my youngest son Ben to the Lord. For months he had been talking to me about "asking Jesus into my heart". I didn't want to simply lead him through the sinner's prayer without him really understanding what this decision really meant for him. I prayed about what to say and the Lord revealed to me to ask Ben this question: "Do you want Jesus to be the boss?" When I talked to him the next day, Ben did ask about Jesus being in his heart. I said, "That's great Ben, but that means that Jesus is the boss now. Are you ready to do that?" Ben's response was so typically---Ben. "Um, no" he said with some conviction. And every time he would broach the subject over the next several months, I'd respond with the same question: "Are you ready for Jesus to be the boss?" In his own child-like understanding, Ben knew that while becoming a Christian was a free gift--it required a submission of his will. This truth is something that each child of God has to come to terms with--God want to give the free gift of salvation to all who would believe, but it is an act of surrender of the will that defines the beginning of becoming an authentic follower of Jesus Christ.
On glorious evening before bed, Ben firmly announced, "I want Jesus to be the boss now". I knew that he was ready. And so we prayed together and Ben became a child of the King. Immediately after the prayer, I went downstairs and told my wife that Ben had something to announce to her. Ben bolted downstairs and said in a loud voice, "Mommy, Jesus is the boss now!" And we smiled right down to the bottom of our souls. Since then I've seen such growth in my youngest son--He truly loves Jesus. Even though he often struggles to make Jesus the boss on some days, he is incredibly spiritually sensitive.
What is the essence of the Christian life? To love God above anyone or anything else (Matthew 22:37-40). And we express this love by obedience--particularly in obedience by loving one another. I John 3:18-23 says, " My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another." It is so sad to watch professing Christians who are living in disobedience to Christ's Lordship--often because they lack a spirit of love toward others. They are living under a spirit of condemnation--and they are missing out on the love of Christ. Joy and peace are gifts that cannot be opened when our heart is in this condition.
Who's the boss in your life? Let Jesus in. He alone will give you the eternal peace and joy your soul longs for.
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