Teacher or Lord? | Restoring Warriors Daily Devotional | Matthew 26:24-25

Teacher or Lord? | Matthew 26:24–25 | The Difference Between Respect and SurrenderIn Gospel of Matthew 26:24–25, Judas Iscariot sits at the same table as the other disciples. He listens to the teaching, follows the group, and stays close to Jesus Christ. But when he speaks, he calls Him “Rabbi”—Teacher—not Lord.That one word reveals everything.Judas was willing to learn from Jesus…but not surrender to Him.And many men live in that same tension today.We respect Jesus.We agree with His teaching.We may even serve, lead, and show up consistently.But when obedience becomes costly—when it demands sacrifice, humility, forgiveness, or change—we hold onto control.Because there’s a difference between admiring Jesus and submitting to Him.Calling Jesus “Lord” means more than believing in Him.It means trusting Him enough to obey when the outcome feels uncertain.The difference between spiritual growth and spiritual stagnation often comes down to one question:Is Jesus just someone you listen to… or the One you follow?