RABBI

RABBI
A few days ago a visiting minister drew our attention to a word play in the Bible which illustrates different ways in which we can relate to Jesus.
He drew our attention to Matthew 26:25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. The Greek word that Judas used is "Rabbi", which means a teacher, or school master.
This term was contrasted with Matthew 26:22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? The other disciples all used the word "Kurios", which is properly translated "Lord".
The minister used the two words to show how Judas, though numbered among the dicsiples, was unable to call Jesus "Lord" because he was not fully surrendered to Him. There were other things in his affections which kept him from being in full surrender to the Lordship of Jesus.
Judas was not the only person to be afflicted this way.
There has been much speculation about what these "other things" might have been. I do not feel that we need to speculate about what they were. Their identity is not the critical point, and in mentioning certain things which seemed to be glaring realities in his life we tend to salve our consciences if we do not see the same things in our lives. In this "comparing ourselves with ourselves" we are not wise. Our personal hindrance to complete surrender will probably be far removed from those of Judas. They will keep us from full surrender as surely as his did, if we do not deal with them.
Multitudes upon multitudes of Christians today are in the same condition as Judas was on that day.
They are saved. They will eventually get to heaven. We can not question their salvation, for that is a GIFT FROM GOD. (Judas, however, died before Calvary. We have no scriptural basis for hope in his eternal destiny.)
But they have not made Jesus the LORD OF THEIR LIFE.
They are not classed among the OVERCOMERS.
There is not much hope of a REWARD for them.
There will be no CROWN awaiting them on the other side.
On the other hand, the OVERCOMERS, who have done their best to crucify the flesh with its desires, so they can do what is pleasing to the Lord, have something glorious to look forward to as this age draws to a close.
GOD'S WAYS ARE ALWAYS CONTRARY TO OUR FLESHLY DESIRES. WE CAN NOT PLEASE BOTH.
Every day of our lives, Jesus is either our "Lord", or He is a "Teacher" to us. There is a big difference between the two.
Our churches are made up of TWO COMPANIES of people-- one within the other. Like an expectant mother, there is a smaller body within the one which is presently carrying it.
This SMALLER group are the OVERCOMERS of the seven churches in the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
They are INDIVIDUALS within the corporate body who are meeting God's requirements for their lives in the day they are living. They have made Jesus their LORD. They are more concerned with what His Word requires of them than they are about church buildings, ceremonies, programs and social activities connected with the present set up.
The corporate body is NOT MEETING those requirements-- never has-- never will. It has a huge "machine" running, and it requires so much energy (money, time, maintenance, etc.) to keep it going-- there is very little being accomplished other than fueling and maintaining machinery. Personal consecration to the Will and Nature of God in the life of the individual has fallen by the wayside. (Whatever happened to prayer meetings where people "consecrated" themselves to the Will of God? That energy is now required to fuel a "machine".) We must now sign petitions, march in a demonstration, and write our congressman, instead of "praying through" to personal victory.