The Upper Room Devotional 2 April 2026, Thursday Message
My Commander
Steve Mills (California, USA)
Today’s Reading
John 15:9-17
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Jesus said, “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” – John 13:13-14 (NRSVUE)
When I declare Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I usually focus on the word savior because I feel grateful that Jesus has saved me. But I wonder, when I call him “Lord,” what am I really saying? I researched this, and discovered that the Greek word for lord is kyrios, which can be translated as a man with great power and authority.
In the military every person must answer to someone of higher rank and obey the orders of their commander. In today’s reading from the Gospel of John, Jesus gives his disciples a single command: “Love one another as I have loved you.” And he led by example, first serving the disciples by washing their feet and then demonstrating the greatest possible love — “to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
So now when I encounter the word Lord in scripture or say it in prayer, I add Commander. This reminds me to obey my Lord’s command — to love others through service and self-sacrifice.
Thought for the Day
How will I love and serve others as Christ commanded?
Prayer Focus
Those in military service
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More from Steve Mills
Today’s Prayer
Jesus, our Lord and Commander, help us to obey your instruction to love and serve one another as you love us. Amen.
The Upper Room Devotional 2 April 2026 is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. Read More
