Dependence
is the disposition of a child to a parent. The more helpless a child
is, the more dependent they are for care, protection, support and
guidance. Children are claimed on US taxes as 'dependents' because
their parents are responsible for their well being while they are in the
home. As children grow, they experience more and more independence or
self-governance. America declared it's independence from England
through a revolt, war and legislation. Christ followers must keep in
mind that in the Kingdom of God, we as the Father's children, make a declaration of DEPENDENCE on Him! He is the One on whom we rely, whose guidance controls our actions and in whom we trust for our financial support. God is after your dependence on Him!
Jesus said, "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
15:5 ESV We give mental assent to this fact, and express it glibly to
others, but we don't experience the reality of our dependence until the
vulnerability and powerlessness of times like these befalls us with:
riots, earthquakes, tornadoes, financial and political crises, health
issues and other circumstances beyond our control.
It is hard to admit that we would really prefer to handle things ourselves: to
know all the answers, to be invincible, immortal and never vulnerable. We'd
like to think that our much speaking, posting, protesting, or the
security measures we take, and the money we have in the bank will
preserve us from any trouble. Deep down, we know we are ultimately dependent on God's mercy, grace, sovereignty and timing, and that can be either really scary or really comforting. In his time of crisis, Paul clung to his unreliability and his need for God. For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead. (1 Corinthians 1:8-9) God is after our dependence on Him.
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
15:5 ESV We give mental assent to this fact, and express it glibly to
others, but we don't experience the reality of our dependence until the
vulnerability and powerlessness of times like these befalls us with:
riots, earthquakes, tornadoes, financial and political crises, health
issues and other circumstances beyond our control. It is hard to admit that we would really prefer to handle things ourselves: to
know all the answers, to be invincible, immortal and never vulnerable. We'd
like to think that our much speaking, posting, protesting, or the
security measures we take, and the money we have in the bank will
preserve us from any trouble. Deep down, we know we are ultimately dependent on God's mercy, grace, sovereignty and timing, and that can be either really scary or really comforting. In his time of crisis, Paul clung to his unreliability and his need for God. For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead. (1 Corinthians 1:8-9) God is after our dependence on Him.
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