trbccoffeebreak

“Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

We all just celebrated the 4^th of July—the birthday of this great nation we are blessed to live in. You may have gotten together with friends or family for a cookout, or perhaps you attended a baseball game. Depending on what state you live in (and the current legality of certain fireworks), you may have been up later than usual comforting your terrified, shivering dogs as the celebratory “bombs bursting in air” lit up the night—oh, wait, that was me.

Regardless of how you commemorated this holiday, it is our country’s Independence Day. We were no longer beholden to King George or England’s laws. The leaders of our young nation had a better way to govern—by the people and for the people. And for centuries people from all over the world (including my own mother) have been flocking to enjoy the freedom established on that day.

Independence. As individuals, it’s an innate, visceral desire. From the toddler’s cry of, “I do it myself!” to teenagers pushing against mom and dad’s house rules to prove themselves “all grown up,” we all strive for a sense of self-reliance. In our current culture, though, the concept of independence has been distorted, morphing self-reliance into a disgraceful me-myself-and-I self-indulgence.

All our cultural whackadoodleness aside, our human tendency toward independence also creates a barrier to embracing a dependence on God. The thing is, friend, there are plenty of things we can—and should—do on our own, whether we’re on the path to progression (like the toddler and teen), or we’re out to prove something (to ourselves or others). But when it comes to progressing toward heaven or proving ourselves worthy enough to stand before a Holy God in acceptance, we cannot do it ourselves.

We are completely dependent upon Jesus Christ—His finished work on Calvary and His victorious resurrection. There is no action we can take on our own, no checklist to complete, no “good enough.” It is only through accepting the amazing grace of Jesus and surrendering to Him as Savior and Lord that we are made righteous, as white as snow. Through our dependence on Him, we gain our true freedom—from sin and death. Eternal life cannot be earned. It’s gained when we let go of self-reliance and cling to the Lord.

If you have not yet gained your freedom in Christ, why not make today your Dependence Day?

“Lord, thank You for setting me free. Help me stand firm on Your Truth and stay dependent on You always.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life