Paul Merideth
“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
We all know some key “cries” when there’s an emergency. We know how to shout “Call 911!” If you catch on fire you know to “Stop, Drop, & Roll!” If you’re the captain of the starship Enterprise you know how to shout “Shields up, Red Alert!” I would like to suggest that there are some key “cries” the Christian should know.
First, is the cry of “Abba, Father!” Jesus introduced the idea of a warm relationship with God in Matthew 6:9 when he taught the disciples to approach God in a personal way. God is majestic and holy; sovereign and supreme. But, he is also our tender loving heavenly father who wants us to cry out to him in our moments of despair and delight. The Aramaic “abba” conveys the notion of “father” but with added warmth and tenderness. The cry of “Abba Father” is a cry of faith. It is an appeal to God and a recognition that we are dependent upon him as children to their father (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6).
Second, is “Have mercy on me, a sinner!” This is the cry of repentance. In Luke 18:9-14 the humble worshipper stood far off in contrition and shame calling for the Lord’s mercy. Jesus tells this parable to highlight the humility of this man but also to juxtapose his attitude to the egocentric man who boastfully touted his self-righteousness. Our arrogance doesn’t fly with God. We must approach him with an attitude of respect, recognizing his holiness and our sinfulness.
Third, is the cry of “Jesus is Lord!” In Romans 10:9 we see this as the cry of confession. The supreme name that bows our knees and reveals God is Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:9,10). When we are confronted at Judgment by the Almighty we had better know the name of our Lord. Also, if we confess Jesus as Lord with our mouths then we need to be living in a way that outwardly reflects our trust in his lordship.
When you need to cry out to God, but need help with the words; try these suggestions. The cry of faith—“Abba Father!” The cry of repentance—“Have mercy on me a sinner!” And the cry of confession—“Jesus is Lord!”
Paul Merideth is minister of the Watterson Trail Church of Christ