Dependence Day
This year let’s celebrate July 4 as DEPENDENCE DAY.
Before we fire up the grill and fire off the bottle rockets, let’s pause and remember our dependence on Christ for life, breath and everything else.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:4-5).
We can do NOTHING apart from abiding in, continuing in, and fellowshipping with Christ. “Apart from me you can do NOTHING.” Not some things - nothing. Literally.
Apart from Christ we can’t overcome sin, or become more like him. We can’t love God, make it through trials, or live the Christian life.
How do we abide in Christ? There’s a distinct link between abiding in Christ and abiding in his Word:
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you (John 15:7).
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love (John 15:10).
Abiding in Christ’s word is a major component of abiding in Christ. We abide in Christ’s word when we take it in, meditate on it, apply it to our lives, and obey it.
Therefore, apart from continuing in Christ’s word, we won’t bear the Spirit’s fruit of love, joy, and peace. We’ll lack patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
When people come to me for counseling, often one of my first questions is: Are you regularly spending time in the Word of God? Because if they fail to do this, though I’m happy to counsel them, in the long run my counsel will be of little benefit because they’re not abiding in Christ.
I’m convinced that a large amount of counseling would be unnecessary if believers sought to faithfully read, meditate on, and obey the Bible.
When life puts the squeeze on me, I’m tempted to neglect the Word. I think things like: I don’t have time to read the Bible, I need to get working on this problem. Or, I can’t afford to read the Bible today, I have so much to do at work.
The truth is, we can’t afford NOT to read the Bible. Because if we neglect his word, we neglect Christ, and apart from him we can do NOTHING. But if we abide in him, we’ll bear much fruit. If we seek first his kingdom, and not our own pursuits, God will add all things to us.
So let’s resolve this Dependence Day to be more dependent on Christ and to seek to abide more consistently in his Word.
photo by Sue
Posted in God's Word
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:04 am
DECLARATION OF DEPENDENCE by Glenn A. Hascall
When in the course of my humanity.
It became necessary for me to dissolve the bonds, which have connected me for so long to one who cares not for my ultimate well-being.
I first and foremost declare a separation from the one who stated control over my life and of whom I am now certain meant me personal and spiritual harm.
I hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all men are created by God, and are endowed by Him with complete unalienable grace, that among these are the forgiveness of sin, the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit, and the sacrifice of God’s one and only Son, Jesus Christ.
These truths serve to draw me irresistibly to my Maker. Prudence, indeed dictates that this design, with its foundations lodged in a time long past remembering, can never be revoked and has been set in place to be beneficial to mankind as well as provide our only means to godly living.
When I take note of a long train of abuses by a lesser power seeking to usurp this forever rule and reign I must resist all such efforts. It is my right and duty to stand against such evil and provide ample opportunity for God to secure my future in His loving care and guidance.
The enemy has refused the rule and reign of Jesus Christ.
He has encouraged his minions to meddle needlessly in the spiritual affairs of mankind.
He has refused to acknowledge the laws governing God’s people.
He has made it a personal mission to distract us from following godly principles.
He has repeatedly engaged God’s people in spiritual battle.
For the deprivation of uninterrupted time with God.
For continual accusations of forgiven offenses.
Our enemy has abdicated any rule over us because he has not agreed to the universal law of God’s absolute truth.
He has plundered our churches and ravaged God’s people.
He has lured some away and hold them captive without cause.
He has incited others against us, also without cause both from within and without.
In every stage of these oppressions we have sought relief. Our enemy only answers in the most ruthless of terms. A prince, whose character is continually marked by acts of tyranny and remains unfit to rule.
I, therefore as a representative of the Children of God, do solemnly publish and declare, that the believing members of the Church, one body ordained by God, are free to worship our Maker. I remain a free, yet dependant member of the body of Christ.
This shall remain my once-and-for-all DECLARATION OF DEPENDENCE upon the one true God, His Son Jesus Christ, and God’s Holy Spirit. I further pledge that without my dependence on this source I shall never find joy in my life, fortunes or personal honor.
July 3rd, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Thanks for using my favorite verse, John 15:5. We often have this impression that we are entitled to have certain things. We have rights, right?
Actually, we don’t. We are completely dependent. Thanks for the reminder, and have a great Dependence Day.
P.S. Maybe we should make this an international holiday instead of being so limited to Americans. I’m sure people in other countries would enjoy celebrating it too.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:16 am
Hey Freed, Wow - did you just write that on the spot? I really like this phrase: I further pledge that without my dependence on this source I shall never find joy in my life…thanks for commenting!
Hi Marshall, I agree - let’s make it an international holiday! Happy Dependence Day!