Kendall the Fire

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.”

In our world today, what is an underwriter? According to Investopedia, an underwriter is a financial professional who evaluates and assumes risks for insurance, mortgage, or investment companies to determine whether to accept an application or approve a loan. The underwriter acts as the final decision maker, analyzing data to set terms, approve coverage, or green light loans. 

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!