DEPENDENCE

On July 4th, 1776, the United States declared their independence from Britain. Since that time many countries including some of the islands of the Caribbean - more recently - have gained their independence from Britain. Britannia no longer rules the waves. It is good to be independent of others. Everyone craves independence.  To whom we are dependent to that one or ones we are beholden.

From the time a child discovers walking, that child wants to be independent of his or her parents. That desire for independence thrives and develops as the child develops. Finally one day the adult child ventures out to be an independent person - away from her parents.

Independence works a little different with the children of God. When we were born into the family of God, we were independent of God. We were accustomed to doing our own thing.  We were living our lives according to us.  Do we crave dependence on our Heavenly Father, or on our Savior?   No.  We love our independence. 

However, God calls us to dependence. Our Lord Jesus before He left this earth gave us this message: ....."lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age". Matthew 8:20 
Our Lord Jesus promised His disciples the Helper - the Holy Spirit - who would come after His ascension. John 14:16, 26. The Holy Spirit will teach us all things. He came on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2:1-4 and He came into our individual lives when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior.

God has given us many commands and admonitions. Below is a sample....
Galations5:25 - Walk in the Spirit
Ephesians 5:18 ...Be filled with the Spirit 
1 Peter 1:16 - Be holy for I am holy.
John 13:34 .....love one another; as I have loved you ...
1Thessalonians 5:17:  Pray without ceasing.
1 Thessalonians 5:18:  In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus ……
Can we accomplish these goals living independently of Christ?  I think not.  Dependence on the Holy Spirit and on God’s Word is the only way to live the Christian life.
 
The Christian life is a call to dependence upon God.


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