Speaking in a general sense, our Lord is that which we continually and faithfully submit to. We may say that Jesus is our Lord, but if we are faithfully submitting to other things, the other things are really our lord.
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey (Rom. 6:16)
Let’s look at example of a man who was a slave to his circumstances. In John, chapter 5, we have the story of a man who had been lying by the Pool of Bethesda for 38 years due to a physical affliction. He, along with a multitude of other sick people, was waiting for a supposed stirring of the waters by an angel at which time the first one into the water would be healed.
In this brief description we can find this man submitted to two different ‘lords’ which dominated his life. He was a slave to the things he was obeying. First, he was a slave to his affliction. It had dictated his lifestyle for 38 years. His identity, routine and destiny revolved around the sickness. The sickness had become his lord. Secondly, he was being lorded over by a superstition. His belief held him captive to a pool of water. There is no mention in the Old Testament of healing coming to Israel by means of an angel stirring the waters of a pool. Yet, a multitude of people had submitted to this story
When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” (John 5:6)
Jesus presented this man with a new option. The new option would mean that the lordships of sickness and superstition would have to release their grip and the man would be able to enter in to true freedom, if this man would be willing to release his grip on those two masters!
Many times we allow circumstances, superstitions, fear and wrong thinking to be our lords without even realizing it. We claim that Jesus is Lord, but we live in bondage to other lords. True freedom, including healing, can come when we choose to make Jesus our true Lord. Do you want to be free? Do you want to be made well? Submit yourself (your heart, mind and destiny) to the Lordship of Jesus. Let go of the lordship of circumstances. True freedom can begin with the recognition of the lordship of bondage and the decision to fire that master and give your heart to the one who loves you and wants to set you free.
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)