in dependence

“Oh to be independent! To not have anyone tell me what to do… to be myself… to be free!” From the first man and woman until now, the desire for independence has been a powerful force. But while true freedom is one of the greatest gifts of God, He knows we will only receive it as we live in dependence on Him.

This is the way Jesus lived and He calls us to trust Him. “Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.” (John 6:57) “I do nothing on My own but speak just what the Father has taught Me.” (John 8:28) “By Myself, I can do nothing…” (John 5:30)

Such dependence was not a burden for Jesus… it was life. And this “life was the light of all mankind.” (John 1:4) So He invites us to follow: ‘Come to Me… surrender your life and find it in Me. I am the true Vine who has the perfect Gardener. You are a branch who can only live by staying connected to Me. Depend on Me and you will thrive. Trust the Vine and the Gardener and you will bear fruit… lasting fruit that pleases the Father.’ (see John 15)

In the preface to his book ‘Abide in Christ,’ South African pastor Andrew Murray, who lived from 1828-1917, wrote:

I ask to be permitted to give one word of advice to my reader. It is this. It needs time to grow into Jesus the Vine: do not expect to abide in Him unless you will give Him that time. It is not enough to read God’s Word, or meditations as here offered, and when we think we have hold of the thoughts, and have asked God for His blessing, to go out in the hope that the blessing will abide. No, it needs day by day time with Jesus and with God… If we are to live through Jesus, we must feed on Him; we must thoroughly take in and assimilate that heavenly food the Father has given us in His life. Therefore, take time each day, ere you read, and while you read, and after you read, to put yourself in contact with the living Jesus, to yield yourself distinctly and consciously to His blessed influence; so will you give Him the opportunity of taking hold of you, of drawing you up and keeping you safe in His almighty life.

“I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body will also rest secure, because You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” Psalm 16:7-11

‘Abide in Christ’ by Andrew Murray, ©1985, Barbour and Company, Inc., Westwood, N.J., p 7

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