What does the Bible say about…independence?
I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)
The other day I decided to stop by and visit with my grandchild. She is 3 going on 40 as my mother sometimes calls her an ‘old soul’. Each time I visit with her I am always amazed at her growth in the areas of her young life. To me, it seems just like yesterday that she came into this world, knowing nothing and totally dependent on her mother to provide to her the things she needed to survive and thrive.
Today, that picture is slowly changing as she develops the vocabulary to communicate her wishes. She can walk on her own, and run (often) just because it just feels right to do so. Being a little princess, I have also witnessed her perform wardrobe changes at a moments notice…all by herself. She is becoming independent and that is a great thing as this is the way it should be. Soon (yes, it goes that fast), she will be able to provide for herself and go on to live a productive life.
However, I’ve also watched her become frustrated with attempting to do some things that she was yet incapable of doing on her own. I’ve noticed the temper tantrums associated with just not ‘knowing how’ to do a certain thing. Looking at that made me think of how in life, we will never know it all, or be able to do it all. There isn’t a perfect person walking this earth that can do anything they’d like to do.
Jesus said that apart from Him, we can do nothing. What does that mean exactly? Well, to be frank, it means just what it says. We all are like my grandchild. We sometimes get up in the morning and just go; as if we woke ourselves up. We take for granted that we can just fix ourselves something to eat when hunger strikes…sometimes wolfing down the food without blessing it. We walk, run, drive, and even have the nerve to counsel, all in our own power. Or is it?
My mother told me often, and even reminds me to this day, that I have no gifts, talents, worldly possessions, or even the ability to think that was not given to me by God. Everything that I am, and everything that I have, came from God. He has said that the cattle on a thousand hills are His. My friend, He owns it all and apart from Him we can do nothing that He doesn’t ultimately allow.
For me, it is a hard pill to swallow. Why? Because in order for me to puff myself up, I need to believe that I am somebody and can do it all by myself. My flesh, my pride, is in a constant state of rebelling against this truth and much of the Christian walk is bringing your own self under subjection to the obedience to God’s Word. I am my own worst enemy and without Christ I can do nothing and am eternally lost.
What does this verse of scripture mean to you? Does it hurt your pride to realize that you are dependent and helpless in the eyes of God? That you can't do anything of significance without Him? Please feel free to share your thoughts. Be blessed!
The other day I decided to stop by and visit with my grandchild. She is 3 going on 40 as my mother sometimes calls her an ‘old soul’. Each time I visit with her I am always amazed at her growth in the areas of her young life. To me, it seems just like yesterday that she came into this world, knowing nothing and totally dependent on her mother to provide to her the things she needed to survive and thrive.
Today, that picture is slowly changing as she develops the vocabulary to communicate her wishes. She can walk on her own, and run (often) just because it just feels right to do so. Being a little princess, I have also witnessed her perform wardrobe changes at a moments notice…all by herself. She is becoming independent and that is a great thing as this is the way it should be. Soon (yes, it goes that fast), she will be able to provide for herself and go on to live a productive life.
However, I’ve also watched her become frustrated with attempting to do some things that she was yet incapable of doing on her own. I’ve noticed the temper tantrums associated with just not ‘knowing how’ to do a certain thing. Looking at that made me think of how in life, we will never know it all, or be able to do it all. There isn’t a perfect person walking this earth that can do anything they’d like to do.
Jesus said that apart from Him, we can do nothing. What does that mean exactly? Well, to be frank, it means just what it says. We all are like my grandchild. We sometimes get up in the morning and just go; as if we woke ourselves up. We take for granted that we can just fix ourselves something to eat when hunger strikes…sometimes wolfing down the food without blessing it. We walk, run, drive, and even have the nerve to counsel, all in our own power. Or is it?
My mother told me often, and even reminds me to this day, that I have no gifts, talents, worldly possessions, or even the ability to think that was not given to me by God. Everything that I am, and everything that I have, came from God. He has said that the cattle on a thousand hills are His. My friend, He owns it all and apart from Him we can do nothing that He doesn’t ultimately allow.
For me, it is a hard pill to swallow. Why? Because in order for me to puff myself up, I need to believe that I am somebody and can do it all by myself. My flesh, my pride, is in a constant state of rebelling against this truth and much of the Christian walk is bringing your own self under subjection to the obedience to God’s Word. I am my own worst enemy and without Christ I can do nothing and am eternally lost.
What does this verse of scripture mean to you? Does it hurt your pride to realize that you are dependent and helpless in the eyes of God? That you can't do anything of significance without Him? Please feel free to share your thoughts. Be blessed!
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