I AM A CHRISTIAN: JESUS IS LORD
“No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit.” – 1 Corinthians 12:3
Declaring “Jesus is Lord” isn’t just a statement—it’s the foundation of a transformed life. In the ancient world, this confession was an act of defiance against all other allegiances. Today, it still calls us to trust Jesus during the most difficult seasons of life.
I love the ocean, but I do not dare to venture out beyond solid footing and where I can keep my chin above the surface. That takes little faith. Likewise, I find it easy to trust Jesus when everything is going swimmingly (pardon the pun).
Faith is most important when we find ourselves in over our heads. Faith matters most when we are no longer in control. That’s why God assures us through the words of Isaiah:
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
(Isaiah 43:2)
A Story of Unwavering Faith
In A.D. 203, Perpetua, a 22-year-old mother, faced an unimaginable choice: renounce her faith or die. Imprisoned for being a Christian, she documented her struggles—her father’s desperate pleas, her concern for her infant, and the suffocating darkness of her cell.
Yet, when her baby was allowed to stay with her, she wrote, “My prison suddenly became a palace.” When asked to recant and offer sacrifices to the emperor, she simply declared, “I will not. I am a Christian.”
Her courage reminds us that trusting Christ as Lord strengthens us for whatever we face.
Transformation in the Depths
Jesus is often at work amid our fears, circumstances, questions, and emotions. God who created our innermost being (Psalm 139:13) is well aware of all that troubles or threatens us. Just as Jesus lifted Peter when he began to sink in fear, he lifts us when we trust him in life's storms (Matthew 14:22-33).
The Bible tells us to ‘fear not’ about 365 times—one for each day! Isn’t that amazing? Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).
The Spirit works in these hidden places, replacing fear with faith, reshaping self-centered goals into Christ-centered purposes, and healing the wounds that shape our behaviors.
Perpetua’s final words still challenge us today: “I am a Christian.” Her identity was fully shaped by Christ.
What about you? What unseen fears, doubts, or misplaced priorities is the Spirit calling you to surrender? How is God equipping you to serve for His glory?
As we live under the Lordship of Christ, may we, like Perpetua, boldly declare with our words and actions, “I am a Christian.”
Copyright 2025
Ronald S. Cava
Henderson, North Carolina