Christ Jesus, Our Underwriter

Christ Jesus, Our Underwriter
A photo of text in Greek.

1 Peter 2:21 states: “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”

Speaking literally, the Greek word for “example” is hupo-grammos” (ὑπογραμμός). “Hupo” means “under” or sometimes “by,” while “grammos” can be rendered “writing” or “letter.” For our purposes today, we will interpret it as “under-writing.”

With that in mind, let’s consider Jesus as our “underwriter” in these ways. First, he certainly did “assume the risk” on our behalf. In fact, he took it all for us. He bore my sin. He took on my shame. The lashes that should have been mine were assumed by Him. The death that should have been mine was forced upon Jesus, and the same is true for you. None of us can ever show enough gratitude for Jesus choosing to be our underwriter and assuming the risk for us. 

But the underwriter also “acts as the final decision maker.” Here is where you and I have a choice… will we choose to allow Jesus to function as our decision maker?

Choosing Him as our decision maker is what it means to make Him “Lord” of our lives. Many people are quite content to have Jesus as a “Savior.” (I mean, who wouldn’t want someone else to pay the death penalty for them?)  But, it’s quite another thing to turn over the control of our lives to him, right?

So have you? Have you given Jesus the “decision maker” status in your life? If you haven’t, then there is nothing more important for you to do today!

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About Me

I’m Brad Kendall and I serve as the University Chaplain and Executive Director of Spiritual Formation at Mid-America Christian University. I come to this place having worked as an institutional chaplain for the past 10 years (hospital and hospice) in San Antonio, Texas.  Prior to that, I served in different roles and in various congregations in pastoral ministry for nearly 30 years. My wife Kristel and I are both graduates of MACU and are proud parents of three grown sons. We also have nine grandchildren that we adore. I enjoy reading and outdoor activities.

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