The Danger of Looking Spiritual Without Being Spiritual

Can you look spiritual and still be spiritually bankrupt? At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we’re discovering through Luke’s Gospel that the answer is a sobering yes. Jesus exposed this reality when confronting the religious leaders of His day—and His warning remains relevant for us today.

The Appearance of Spirituality

In Luke 20:45-47, Jesus warns about the scribes who loved their long prayers, religious titles, public respect, and the best seats in the house. They were living for appearances—for their attire, their recognition, their status.

The long robes they wore weren’t just fashion statements. They were symbols that said, “I don’t do manual labor. Other people work for me.” You can’t get down on your hands and knees to serve others in a long robe. You can’t wash feet, carry burdens, or meet practical needs while maintaining that image.

They wanted to be seen. They wanted to be heard. They wanted recognition. And Jesus exposed this heart attitude because Jesus doesn’t measure us by appearances—He measures us by our hearts.

God Sees Differently

Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” God thinks differently than we do. He values differently. He measures differently.

At Lakeview Christian Church, our “Just 3” mission—Study, Share, Serve—is designed to align our hearts with God’s heart, not to create religious performance.

Study to Love and Know God: We study Scripture not to accumulate impressive knowledge, but to transform our thinking and align with God’s values.

Share to Know and Love Others: We share our faith not for recognition, but because we genuinely care about people’s eternal destiny.

Serve – Love in Action: We serve not to be seen, but because Jesus modeled servant leadership.

The Heart Behind the Actions

The scribes had all the external markers of spirituality:

• They prayed long prayers (but for show)
• They held religious titles (but loved the recognition)
• They occupied positions of honor (but exploited the vulnerable)
• They appeared righteous (but “devoured widows’ houses”)

Jesus said they would “receive the greater condemnation.” Not “may receive”—will receive. God is not impressed with appearance without compassion. He’s not moved by religious performance without genuine love.

Examining Our Own Hearts

This passage forces us to ask uncomfortable questions:

• Do I serve to be seen, or because I love God and others?
• Am I more concerned with my reputation than my character?
• Do I want recognition for my spiritual activities?
• Is my faith about performance or transformation?

At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we believe authentic faith shows itself in humble service. As Pastor Jim often says, “I don’t need a title to sound important.” True spiritual leadership looks like Jesus—humble, servant-hearted, focused on others rather than self-promotion.

The Antidote to Spiritual Bankruptcy

The cure for spiritual bankruptcy isn’t more religious activity—it’s genuine relationship with Jesus. It’s allowing Him to transform our hearts from the inside out.

Matthew 23:11-12 records Jesus saying, “The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Real spiritual wealth is measured by:

• Humility over recognition
• Service over status
• Compassion over appearance
• Heart transformation over religious performance

Living Authentically

Being the change as Jesus has changed us means rejecting the scribes’ example and embracing Jesus’ model. It means:

• Serving without needing applause
• Giving without requiring recognition
• Praying without performing
• Leading by serving
• Loving without conditions

As we approach 100 years of ministry at Lakeview Christian Church, our legacy isn’t built on impressive programs or public recognition. It’s built on generations of believers who quietly, faithfully served God and loved others.

Ever notice how the most powerful moments in life happen when no one’s watching? No cameras, no applause, no social media posts—just you and God in a quiet act of faith that changes everything.

Jesus noticed one of those moments in Luke 21, and it’s a story that flips our understanding of generosity completely upside down.

The Woman No One Else Saw

Picture the scene: Jesus is exhausted from verbal battles with religious leaders trying to trap him. He’s probably looking down, mentally drained, when suddenly he glances up and sees her—a widow approaching the temple treasury. The rich are making their donations with loud clangs of heavy coins, but she drops in two tiny mites, worth about 1/64 of a day’s wage. Essentially, two pennies.

Everyone else overlooks her. Jesus stops everything.

“This woman gave more than all of them,” he declares. More? How could two cents possibly be more than thousands? Because Jesus doesn’t measure generosity by the amount given—he measures it by what’s left behind.

The rich gave from their abundance, risking nothing. She gave everything she had to live on. Literally, her whole life.

When Religion Misses the Point

Just moments before noticing the widow, Jesus had warned the crowd about religious leaders who “devour widows’ houses” while wearing impressive robes and saying long prayers. These were the experts, the respected ones—yet they exploited the vulnerable while looking spiritual.

The contrast is stunning. The religious elite took from widows. This widow gave to God. They performed for recognition. She trusted in obscurity. They measured success by appearance. She measured it by surrender.

It’s a sobering reminder: you can look incredibly spiritual and still be spiritually bankrupt.

What Real Generosity Looks Like

Here’s what Jesus wants us to understand: biblical stewardship isn’t about equal giving—it’s about equal trust.

The widow wasn’t being reckless or foolish. She was demonstrating covenant faith, believing that God would provide when she put his kingdom first. She embodied what Jesus would later teach in Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Real generosity isn’t measured by:

• The size of the gift
• The sound it makes
• The recognition it receives

It’s measured by:

• The heart behind it
• The cost to the giver
• The faith it represents

Your Two Cents Matter

So what does this mean for us today? True stewardship starts with recognizing that God doesn’t want just a portion of our lives—he lays claim to all of it, because he first gave all of himself for us.

This week, consider these action steps:

Study: Surrender time to open God’s Word and grow in understanding of his faithfulness.

Share: Give of your time and resources to build community—join a small group, attend a fellowship event, invest in relationships.

Serve: Find a way to give back—whether serving the homeless, teaching a class, encouraging someone who’s struggling, or supporting missions locally and globally.

You may never see the results of your sacrifice, but God will. And here’s the beautiful truth: you’re not home yet. Your reward isn’t found in earthly recognition but in hearing “well done, good and faithful servant.”

Prayer: Father, help us give not from our excess but from our trust in you. Teach us to surrender our whole lives—our time, resources, and hearts—knowing that you see what others overlook and value what the world dismisses. Give us the faith of the widow who trusted you completely. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Understanding Biblical Giving Through the Widow’s Mite

At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we’re learning what it truly means to “be the change as Jesus has changed us” through our “Just 3” mission: Study, Share, and Serve. One of the most powerful lessons about biblical stewardship comes from an unlikely source—a poor widow who gave two small coins.

Theological Recalibration: Rethinking What It Means to Give

The story of the widow’s offering in Luke 21:1-4 isn’t poetic exaggeration—it’s theological recalibration. It’s God twisting something in our minds to ask: what does it really mean to give?

The rich gave from their abundance. The Greek word literally means “from their excess.” It’s the “extra twenty bucks” mentality—giving what we don’t need, what won’t be missed. They gave without risk, knowing they had plenty in reserve.

The widow gave from her poverty—from her deficiency. Remarkably, the Greek word used here is where we get our English word “hysteria.” She gave vulnerably. She gave everything. This reveals a crucial biblical truth: sacrifice and surrender are the language of faith.

How God Measures Generosity

At Lakeview Christian Church, when we talk about “Serve” as part of our mission (love in action), we’re not talking about giving from excess. We’re talking about surrender. God doesn’t measure our giving by the amount on the check—He measures it by the trust in our hearts.

Romans 12:1 calls us to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” The widow understood this. She didn’t give a portion; she gave everything, trusting God completely for her provision.

Practical Application for Today

What does this mean for us at Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes? It means:

Study to Love and Know God: Understanding that everything we have belongs to Him helps us hold our possessions with open hands.

Share to Know and Love Others: True generosity flows from a heart transformed by God’s grace, not from obligation or guilt.

Serve – Love in Action: Sacrificial giving—whether time, resources, or talents—demonstrates our complete trust in God’s provision.

The widow’s two coins were worth about eight minutes of daily wages. She gave everything she had to live on. Not because she was foolish, but because she trusted God’s covenant promises. Psalm 37:25 says, “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.”

The Challenge for Us

God isn’t asking everyone to give away everything they own. But He is asking for equal surrender. What does that look like in your life? Maybe it’s:

• Giving when it costs you something
• Serving when it’s inconvenient
• Trusting God with your finances instead of hoarding for security
• Prioritizing kingdom work over personal comfort

As we celebrate nearly 100 years of ministry at Lakeview Christian Church, we recognize that faithful stewardship built this legacy. Generation after generation trusted God, gave sacrificially, and served faithfully.

The question isn’t “How much should I give?” The question is “How much do I trust God?” When we understand that sacrifice and surrender are the language of faith, our giving—and our entire lives—become an act of worship.

Who Really Owns Your Life?

It’s one of the most important questions you’ll ever answer: Are you living for this age or for the age to come? Your response to this question shapes everything—your priorities, your relationships, your daily decisions, and ultimately, your eternal destiny.

When the Sadducees approached Jesus, they wanted to win an argument about marriage in the resurrection. But Jesus had a different agenda. He wanted to reveal eternity and confront them with a life-defining choice about lordship and allegiance.

The Sadducees’ Fatal Mistake

The Sadducees were impressive by worldly standards. They were religious, well-educated, and highly respected. They held positions of influence and authority. Yet despite all their credentials, they were completely unprepared for eternity because they didn’t believe in the resurrection.

They lived only for this age—for power, prestige, and earthly success. When Jesus stood before them offering eternal life, they couldn’t see beyond their immediate concerns and theological debates. They had everything this world values but nothing that matters for eternity.

Jesus Is Alive Today

The encounter between Jesus and the Sadducees took place during the final week of His earthly ministry. Within days, He would be arrested, beaten, crucified, and buried. But the story doesn’t end there.

Less than a week later, Jesus rose from the dead. And here’s the crucial truth: He wasn’t just alive then—He is alive today. Right now. This very moment. The resurrection isn’t just a historical event we commemorate; it’s a present reality that changes everything.

Because Jesus lives, you and I can have real life today. Not just existence, but abundant, purposeful, eternal life that begins the moment we trust in Him.

Two Ways to Live

The contrast between the Sadducees and Jesus reveals two fundamentally different approaches to life. The Sadducees lived for this age—for what they could see, control, and achieve in their limited time on earth. Jesus offered life in the age to come—eternal life that transforms how we live right now.

Living for this age means pursuing comfort, success, and security as ultimate goals. It means making decisions based solely on earthly consequences and immediate gratification. It means investing everything in what will ultimately pass away.

Living for the age to come means recognizing that this life is preparation for eternity. It means making choices based on eternal values, not just temporal benefits. It means investing in what will last forever—relationships with God and others, character development, and kingdom work.

The Living Word Speaks Today

As we read Scripture, we encounter the living, active Word of God speaking tous today. Jesus, as Lord of the living, isn’t a distant historical figure or a theological concept. He’s present, active, and calling us to surrender our lives to Him.

The question isn’t whether you’re religious or well-educated or respected. The Sadducees had all that and still missed eternal life. The question is whether you’re living with eternity in view.

What Does It Mean to Live for the Age to Come?

Living for the age to come doesn’t mean ignoring your responsibilities today or becoming so heavenly minded that you’re no earthly good. Instead, it means:

Prioritizing eternal relationships over temporary achievements. People last forever; possessions don’t.

Making decisions based on kingdom values, not cultural pressures. What honors God matters more than what impresses others.

Investing your time, talents, and resources in what has eternal significance. Your legacy isn’t what you accumulate but what you give away.

Living with the confidence that death isn’t the end. Because Jesus rose from the dead, you can face uncertainty with hope.

The Choice Before You

Every day, you face the same choice the Sadducees faced: Will you live for this age or the age to come? Will you invest in what’s temporary or what’s eternal? Will you acknowledge Jesus as Lord or keep Him at arm’s length?

The Sadducees chose poorly. Despite their knowledge and status, they were unprepared for eternity because they rejected the resurrection and missed the Messiah standing before them.

You don’t have to make the same mistake. Jesus is alive today, offering you real life—abundant life that begins now and continues forever. The question is: Who really owns your life?

Take the Step Today

If you’ve never trusted in Jesus, today is the day to surrender your life to Him. Turn from living only for this world and embrace the eternal life He offers. Trust in His death and resurrection, receive His forgiveness, and step into the new life He promises.

If you already believe, it’s time to live like the resurrection is real. Jesus didn’t stay in the grave, and your faith shouldn’t stay dormant either. Let the reality of His resurrection transform how you live today.

Because Jesus is alive, the future has already begun. The age to come isn’t just something we wait for—it’s something we step into now by faith. Don’t wait another day to live for what truly matters.

The choice is yours: this age or the age to come? Choose wisely. Choose life. Choose Jesus.

When Bible Knowledge Isn’t Enough

You can memorize Bible verses. You can quote Scripture in conversations. You can attend church every week, participate in small groups, and take theology classes. But here’s a sobering truth: you can do all of this and still miss the point entirely.

The Sadducees—religious leaders in Jesus’ time—knew the text of Scripture intimately. They had memorized the first five books of the Bible. They could debate theological fine points with the best scholars of their day. Yet they missed the truth. And in missing the truth, they missed the Messiah standing right in front of them.

The Danger of Head Knowledge Without Heart Transformation

Jesus put all the pieces of the puzzle together—the Old Testament, the New Testament, every book pointing to the Messiah. The Sadducees studied these same Scriptures but failed to see what they revealed about Jesus.

This same danger exists today. We can read our Bibles faithfully, quote verses to friends, and even teach Sunday school, yet miss the living, active power of God’s Word. When someone asks, “What does that verse mean?” and we respond, “I don’t know, my Sunday school teacher told me to memorize it,” we’ve revealed a critical gap.

Scripture Is Living and Active

The Bible isn’t just a collection of ancient texts or moral guidelines. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.” This means Scripture has power to transform lives, convict hearts, and reveal truth in ways that go far beyond intellectual understanding.

When your mind and heart are closed to the transformative power of God’s Word, you miss the absolute truth it contains. You might know what the Bible says, but you won’t experience what it does.

From Information to Transformation

The difference between knowing Scripture and knowing God through Scripture is the difference between information and transformation. Information fills your head; transformation changes your life.

Jesus didn’t come just to give us more religious information. He came to offer relationship, redemption, and new life. Every verse of Scripture ultimately points to Him—not as a theological concept, but as a living Savior who wants to transform us from the inside out.

How to Move Beyond Surface-Level Bible Reading

So how do we avoid the Sadducees’ mistake? How do we move from merely knowing Scripture to experiencing its life-changing power?

First, approach the Bible prayerfully, asking God to open your heart and mind to His truth. Second, read Scripture not just to check a box, but to encounter the living God. Third, allow what you read to challenge and change you, not just confirm what you already believe.

When you read about God’s love, let it transform how you love others. When you encounter Jesus’ sacrifice, let it reshape your priorities. When Scripture convicts you of sin, respond with repentance rather than rationalization.

The Ultimate Question

The Sadducees had all the religious credentials but missed Jesus entirely. Don’t make the same mistake. The question isn’t whether you know your Bible—it’s whether you know the God revealed in its pages.

Let Scripture be what it was meant to be: the living, active Word of God that transforms your heart, renews your mind, and draws you into deeper relationship with Jesus. That’s when Bible knowledge becomes life-changing truth.

What do you think happens after you die?

It’s one of the most revealing questions you can ask—and one our culture either avoids or answers with wishful thinking. We’re fascinated by the afterlife, yet deeply confused about it. Some imagine heaven as an endless church service. Others picture a vague spiritual existence. Many assume this life is all there is, so they live only for the moment.

But here’s the truth: how you answer that question determines how you live right now.

In Luke 20, Jesus confronts this very issue when the Sadducees—wealthy, educated religious leaders who didn’t believe in resurrection—try to trap Him with a ridiculous hypothetical about marriage in heaven. Their question wasn’t sincere; it was sarcasm wrapped in theology. They couldn’t imagine eternity as anything more than an extension of earthly life.

Jesus doesn’t just answer their question. He exposes their shallow thinking, redefines what eternity really means, and reveals His own divine identity in the process.

When We Shrink Heaven, We Shrink God

The Sadducees made a critical mistake: they reduced resurrection to their limited imagination. They thought heaven would be just like earth, only fancier—better houses, golden streets, same relationships, same struggles.

Sound familiar? Many of us do the same thing today. We either make eternity a grander version of this life or reject it altogether because we can’t wrap our minds around it.

But C.S. Lewis nailed it when he wrote: “The life of the resurrection does not mean prolonging this life, but transforming it.”

Jesus corrects their assumptions by explaining that resurrected life isn’t about marriage, procreation, or preserving legacies. It’s about perfected love, immortality, and being fully alive in God’s presence. Marriage is beautiful—like a candle giving light in darkness—but when the sun rises, you don’t mourn the candle. You rejoice because something greater has come.

Heaven doesn’t erase love; it perfects it.

Jesus Proves Resurrection from Scripture

Then Jesus does something brilliant. He proves resurrection using the very text the Sadducees accepted—the books of Moses. He quotes God saying, “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”—not “I was.” Present tense. They’re alive because God keeps His covenant promises beyond the grave.

Resurrection isn’t speculation. It’s a covenant promise that will be fulfilled.

The scribes were stunned. Luke tells us they “no longer dared to ask Him any question.” Why? Because Jesus doesn’t just quote Scripture—He understands it. The Sadducees knew the text but missed the truth.

You can read the Bible, memorize verses, even attend church regularly, and still miss God’s power if your heart is closed.

Real Life Recognizes Jesus as Lord

Jesus then turns the tables and asks His own question: “How can the Messiah be David’s son if David calls Him ‘Lord’?” (Psalm 110:1). The answer? Jesus is both fully human and fully divine. He’s not just a moral teacher or spiritual guide—He’s Lord of the living.

And if He’s Lord, everything changes.

Live Like Resurrection Is Real

So here’s the question this sermon leaves us with: Are you living for this age—or for the age to come?

The Sadducees were religious, educated, and respected—but spiritually unprepared for eternity. Jesus stands before them, and before us, as the Lord of the living. Because He went to the cross, rose from the grave, and is alive right now, you can have real life—today.

If you’ve never trusted Christ: Surrender to Him today. Turn from living for this world alone and receive forgiveness, new life, and eternal hope.

If you already believe: Hold this world loosely. Serve Jesus fully. Real life with Jesus begins now and lasts forever.

As N.T. Wright said, “Because Christ has been raised, the future has already begun.”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help us live today in light of eternity. Open our hearts to Your truth, reshape our minds through Scripture, and give us courage to surrender fully to You as our living Lord. May we hold this world loosely and hold You tightly, knowing that real life begins now and lasts forever. In Your name, Amen.

Rethinking Our View of Eternity

When you think about heaven, what comes to mind? For many, it’s an endless church service—which sounds amazing to some and exhausting to others. Perhaps you picture floating on clouds in some vague spiritual existence, or maybe you’ve wondered if there’s anything beyond this life at all.

These common misconceptions about heaven reveal something important: how we answer the question “What happens after we die?” fundamentally shapes how we live right now.

Heaven Is More Real Than You Think

As Christians, we need to understand that heaven isn’t some ethereal, floating existence on a distant cloud. Scripture reveals heaven as the eternal dwelling place of God and the redeemed—a tangible, renewed reality far more concrete than our current experience.

The biblical promise of heaven includes resurrected bodies. Not ghostly spirits, but perfect, whole, physical bodies. Imagine: no more knee pain, no more aches, no more physical limitations. This isn’t wishful thinking—it’s the clear teaching of Scripture about our future resurrection.

The Promise of Seeing Jesus Face to Face

At the heart of the Christian hope for heaven is the promise of seeing Jesus face to face. This personal encounter with our Savior transforms heaven from an abstract concept into a relational reality. We won’t just exist in some spiritual realm; we’ll experience perfect fellowship with God and with other believers.

C.S. Lewis captured this truth beautifully when he wrote, “The life of the resurrection does not mean prolonging this life, but transforming it.” Heaven isn’t this life made bigger or longer—it’s something entirely new and infinitely better.

Why Your View of Heaven Matters Today

Culture often avoids questions about eternity or answers them with vague wishful thinking. But how you and I answer the question of what happens after death determines how we live right now.

If this life is all there is, then pursuing comfort, success, and control makes perfect sense. But if there’s a resurrection and a heaven—and Scripture clearly teaches there is—then everything changes. Our priorities shift. Our values transform. Our daily decisions take on eternal significance.

Living with an eternal perspective doesn’t mean we ignore the present. Instead, it means we invest our lives in what truly matters, knowing that our choices today have consequences that extend far beyond our earthly years.

Living in Light of Eternity

The reality of heaven should inspire us to live differently today. When we grasp that our current struggles are temporary and that perfect wholeness awaits us, we can face difficulties with hope. When we understand that relationships will be perfected in eternity, we can love others more freely now.

The question isn’t whether heaven exists—Scripture settles that. The question is whether we’re living like we believe it. Are your daily choices, relationships, and priorities shaped by the reality of eternity, or are you living only for the here and now?

Heaven is real. It’s tangible. It’s promised to all who trust in Jesus. And that truth should change everything about how we live today.

The Real Reason for Rejection

People don’t reject Jesus because they lack information. In our age of unprecedented access to knowledge, ignorance isn’t the issue. The real barrier is fear—specifically, fear of where obedience might lead.

What if Jesus really is who He says He is? What if following Him costs something? What if obedience disrupts the life I’ve carefully constructed? These “what ifs” keep people at arm’s length from genuine faith.

The Consultant vs. Lord Problem

Timothy Keller identified a crucial truth: if Jesus is really Lord, we don’t get to keep Him as just a consultant. Many people are comfortable with “Consultant Jesus”—someone they check in with occasionally for advice but who doesn’t interfere with their actual decision-making.

But Jesus doesn’t offer consultant services. He claims total authority over every area of life—your relationships, your finances, your career, your sexuality, your ambitions, your daily schedule. That’s a big “what if” that understandably scares people.

The Authority Question We Dodge

When religious leaders questioned Jesus’s authority, He responded by exposing their avoidance. They didn’t want a real answer; they wanted an escape route. Jesus wouldn’t give them one.

We do the same thing today. We dodge the authority question by staying perpetually “open-minded,” by treating faith as one option among many, by keeping Jesus at a comfortable distance where He can inspire us without commanding us.

Real life with Jesus begins when we stop dodging this authority question. The issue isn’t whether Jesus has authority—Scripture is clear that He does. The issue is whether we’ll submit to it.

Submission Is the Sticking Point

Authority isn’t the problem; submission is. We live in a culture that celebrates autonomy and personal freedom above almost everything else. The idea of submitting to anyone’s authority—even God’s—feels restrictive, outdated, even oppressive.

But here’s the paradox: true freedom comes through submission to the right authority. Submitting to Jesus isn’t slavery; it’s liberation from the tyranny of self, sin, and meaninglessness. His authority isn’t arbitrary or capricious—it flows from perfect love and wisdom.

What Total Authority Looks Like

When Jesus becomes Lord rather than consultant, everything changes. He doesn’t just influence your decisions; He determines your direction. He doesn’t just offer suggestions; He issues commands. He doesn’t just provide comfort; He calls you to costly obedience.

This sounds overwhelming because it is. Following Jesus isn’t a minor lifestyle adjustment—it’s a complete reorientation of life around His authority. No wonder people hesitate.

The Fear Behind the Hesitation

The fear is understandable. What will Jesus ask of me? Will I have to give up relationships, ambitions, or comforts I value? Will following Him make my life harder? Will people think I’m strange or judgmental?

These fears are real, but they’re based on a misunderstanding. Jesus’s authority isn’t about making you miserable—it’s about making you whole. His commands aren’t arbitrary restrictions but pathways to flourishing. When He asks you to surrender something, it’s because He’s offering something infinitely better.

Moving Past the “What Ifs”

The “what ifs” that keep us from full surrender are ultimately questions of trust. What if Jesus isn’t good? What if His way doesn’t work? What if I’m better off in control?

But these questions ignore the evidence. Jesus proved His love at the cross. He demonstrated His wisdom through His teaching. He validated His authority through His resurrection. The real “what if” should be: what if I miss out on the abundant life He offers because I insisted on staying in control?

The Invitation to Surrender

Jesus doesn’t force His authority on anyone. He invites submission, knowing that genuine lordship can only be freely given. He stands at the door and knocks, waiting for us to open.

The invitation is clear: stop treating Jesus as a consultant you check in with when convenient. Stop dodging the authority question. Stop letting fear of obedience keep you from the One who loves you most.

Making the Shift

Moving from “Consultant Jesus” to “Lord Jesus” starts with honest acknowledgment. Admit that you’ve been holding back, keeping areas of your life off-limits to His authority. Confess that submission scares you and that you’ve preferred control.

Then take the step of faith: surrender specific areas to His lordship. Your relationships—let Him define what’s healthy. Your finances—let Him determine generosity. Your time—let Him set priorities. Your future—let Him direct your path.

The Freedom in Surrender

Here’s what you’ll discover: submitting to Jesus’s total authority is the most liberating decision you’ll ever make. When He’s truly Lord, you’re free from the exhausting burden of being your own god. You’re free from the anxiety of figuring everything out alone. You’re free to rest in His wisdom, trust His goodness, and follow His lead.

Authority isn’t the problem. Submission is—until you experience the joy of submitting to the One who gave everything for you. Then submission becomes not a burden but a gift, not a restriction but the path to true freedom.

Your Next Step

If you’ve been keeping Jesus as a consultant, today is the day to make Him Lord. Stop dodging the authority question. Face your fears about obedience. And discover that the “what if” you should have been asking all along is this: what if surrendering everything to Jesus is the best decision I could ever make?

Real life with Jesus begins when we stop negotiating and start surrendering, when we move from consultation to complete submission, when we finally let Him be who He’s always claimed to be—Lord of all.

The Trap of False Binaries

When religious leaders tried to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar, they thought they’d created the perfect dilemma. Support Rome and lose the people, or oppose Rome and face charges of treason. But Jesus did what He always does—He chose higher ground.

Beyond Political Tribalism

Jesus wasn’t picking a fight with Caesar, but He wasn’t elevating him either. He simply acknowledged that earthly authority has its place and its limits. Caesar could have taxes, but he couldn’t have worship. Government has legitimate functions, but it doesn’t have ultimate authority.

This matters profoundly today. We live in a world of intense political division where people often feel forced to choose between faith and civic engagement, between God and government. But real life with Jesus refuses this false choice.

The Limits of Earthly Authority

Look around at our world—the divisions, the conflicts, the competing claims to authority. Earthly power structures, whether governmental, corporate, or cultural, all have limits. They can regulate behavior but not transform hearts. They can enforce laws but not create love. They can demand compliance but not inspire genuine worship.

God’s authority, by contrast, has no limits. He owns “the cattle on a thousand hills” and knows the number of hairs on your head. Everything ultimately belongs to Him, which means no earthly authority can make absolute claims on your life.

What Caesar Can and Cannot Have

The principle is straightforward: give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, give to God what is God’s. In practical terms, this means we can be good citizens—paying taxes, obeying just laws, participating in civic life—without making government our ultimate allegiance.

Caesar may have your taxes, but he shouldn’t have your worship. Political leaders may deserve respect, but not the devotion reserved for God alone. Your vote matters, but your soul isn’t up for election.

Navigating Today’s Tensions

How does this work in practice? It means Christians can disagree about policy while agreeing about ultimate authority. It means we can engage politically without becoming political tribalists. It means we can respect governmental authority without giving it the final word on truth, morality, or meaning.

When government aligns with God’s purposes—protecting the vulnerable, promoting justice, maintaining order—we can support it wholeheartedly. When it doesn’t, we respectfully dissent, knowing our citizenship in God’s kingdom supersedes our earthly citizenship.

The Higher Ground

Jesus consistently chose higher ground, and He calls us to do the same. This doesn’t mean withdrawing from society or being politically disengaged. It means engaging from a position of ultimate allegiance to God rather than ultimate allegiance to any political party, ideology, or movement.

In a world demanding we choose sides in earthly conflicts, Jesus invites us to choose His side—which often means transcending the binary choices presented to us.

Your Ultimate Allegiance

The question isn’t whether you’ll have political opinions or civic responsibilities. The question is whether these will define you or whether your identity in Christ will define how you approach them.

Real life with Jesus means refusing false choices between God and government, recognizing that while earthly authority has its place, only God deserves your whole heart, soul, and ultimate allegiance.

Ever found yourself asking, “Who’s really in charge here?” Maybe it was during a snowstorm that disrupted your plans, or perhaps during a season when life felt completely out of control. That question—who’s in charge?—isn’t just about weather or circumstances. It’s the deepest question we face about our lives.

The Authority Question We All Avoid

In Luke 20, religious leaders confronted Jesus with a pointed challenge: “By what authority do you do these things?” They weren’t genuinely curious—they were threatened. Jesus didn’t fit their boxes or follow their rules, yet He spoke with undeniable power.

Here’s what’s fascinating: these leaders didn’t deny Jesus’ miracles or His impact. They questioned whether He had the right to do what He was doing. Sound familiar? We often do the same thing. We acknowledge God’s power but resist His authority over our daily decisions, relationships, and futures.

Jesus responded brilliantly, turning their trap back on them by asking about John the Baptist’s authority. The leaders couldn’t answer without condemning themselves, so they chose what many of us choose: spiritual avoidance disguised as neutrality.

But here’s the truth: people don’t reject Jesus because they lack information. They reject Him because they fear where obedience might lead.

The Parable That Hits Close to Home

Jesus then told a story about vineyard tenants who rejected the owner’s servants—and eventually killed his son to steal the inheritance. The religious leaders eventually realized Jesus was talking about them. They were the tenants refusing to honor God’s authority, rejecting prophet after prophet, and soon they would reject God’s own Son.

The warning is sobering: “Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces.” We’re either broken before Jesus in repentance or broken by Him in judgment. Neutrality isn’t an option. As C.S. Lewis famously said, you can reject Him as a fool, or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord—but you cannot simply ignore Him.

Give to God What Belongs to God

When the leaders tried another trap—asking if Jews should pay taxes to Caesar—Jesus gave His most piercing response yet. He asked for a coin and said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

The coin bore Caesar’s image, so it belonged to Caesar. But you bear God’s image (Genesis 1:27). Your life belongs to God. Your body, your obedience, your worship, your future—all of it belongs to Him.

Real life with Jesus isn’t about partial surrender. It’s about total allegiance.

Your Next Step: Choose Your Authority

So who really owns your life? Not who influences you or who you admire, but who has your deepest allegiance? The rejected stone has become the cornerstone of our faith. The only question left is whether your life will be built on Him or whether you’ll stumble over Him.

If you’re reading this today—maybe snowed in, maybe searching for answers—this is your moment. Bow your head and surrender. Say, “God, I give You my life. Make You my all.”

Prayer: Father, help us stop avoiding the authority question. We confess that we often want You as a consultant but resist You as Lord. Today, we choose total surrender. You are in control—not circumstances, not our plans, not our fears. We give You what already belongs to You: our whole lives. Build us on the cornerstone of Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.