DEPENDENCY! I can’t seem to get away from it, and it seems this is the very thing that I keep coming back to over the past month. As if the Lord is simply bringing me back to the basics.
It is amazing how I can get so far from the very basics at which those who had gone before me had lived for and even died for. When it came to their faith and their walk with Christ nothing was to much to sacrifice. It’s as if I am unlocking a new depth of truth about my relationship with Christ.
I began reading Mark Batterson’s new book Primal. As I began to read, I don’t think I have ever been more convicted or challenged by an introduction as I was when I began reading. So convicted that I didn’t even read the whole thing, just the first two pages.
He says this statement that has resonated with me since I read it. He says, “I couldn’t help but wonder if we have accepted a form of Christianity that is more educated but less powerful, more civilized but less compassionate, more acceptable but less authentic than that which our spiritual ancestors practiced.”
As I have continued to think about what it means to live DEPENDENT on Christ here are a few more thoughts.
1. All I Need Is Him
What does that actually mean, how do I flesh that out? Well the simple truth is that through that way of living and thinking I must TRUST! Trusting doesn’t mean sitting around and waiting for God to just “make it happen”, but I need to activate my faith! Trusting that as I walk out my faith, He will be faithful!
Lesson : Trust
2. In My Weakness I Am Made Strong
This is probably the most difficult for me because to be honest I don’t like looking bad. Pure and simple it is my pride that keeps me often times from living this principle out in my life. The truth is that He already knows that I don’t have what it takes to do what He has called me to do…yet He still called me. Why?
Because He is my strength! Not me, my ability, or my experience!
Simply put HUMILITY! To recognize that nothing I DO will make God love me more or love me less.
Lesson: Humility
3. Honor The Sabbath
I’m not speaking simply of the day, but the principle. During my reading in the Old Testament it seemed that the constant that the Lord always reminded the people about was having no other gods before Him, and honoring the sabbath. So much that at one point they would stone people for not honoring the sabbath.
As I continued to read I realized that God was simply trying to get the Israelites to embrace His provision for them.
When I don’t honor the sabbath, what I am saying is that “I have to make it happen.” Which is as if I live as though I have to play God. Some how feeling that I need to make it happen…not Him.
If I surrender to His Lordship and remember that He is God and I’m not! I don’t have to make it happen!
Lesson: Lordship
Dependency, is truly key to my spiritual maturity.
What are you thoughts on dependency, trust, humility, and Lordship? How have you developed dependency in your relationship with Christ? Where do you need to become dependent?
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