We wake up, grab the phone, check the calendar, answer the messages, get everyone where they need to go, walk into work, solve the problem, make the decision, handle the conflict, serve the people around us and sometimes we can get halfway through the day before realizing while we may have done a lot for Jesus, we haven’t done much with Jesus.
We live in a culture that celebrates independence, hustle, and self-sufficiency. Everywhere we turn, we’re met with messages that push the “you do you” mindset, glorify the grind, and applaud the tough guy (or gal).
We build our own kingdoms and develop tough exteriors. Chase what makes us happy, and tell ourselves, Who cares what anybody else thinks? There’s pressure to stay in control, speak our truth, protect our peace, make things happen, and prove that we can handle whatever comes our way.
And for a while, it can feel empowering… until it doesn’t.
Because beneath all of that striving, many of us are exhausted, uncertain, and spiritually empty.
Self-sufficiency is not sustainable. And, it was never intended to be.
John 15:4–5 says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
We were never created to carry the full weight of life on our own shoulders. We were created to depend on Christ.
Even in the day to day decisions. The moment to moment choices. When you get up late and run behind. When the kids are whiny. When the co-worker (ya’lls co-workers not mine heehee) is getting on your nerves.
We can become good at managing our calendars, solving our problems, paying our bills, raising our families, building our careers, going to church, and holding everything together. But Jesus never called us to become independent of Him in our lives or in our service.
In fact, He said the exact opposite:
“Without Me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5
We may still accomplish things. We may still build impressive lives. We may still receive applause. But there is a difference between producing results and producing fruit.
Results can come from talent, determination, connections, and hard work. Fruit comes from abiding.
Abiding is not doing nothing. Abiding doesn’t mean we stop working, dreaming, planning, building, or pursuing what God has placed before us. It means we stop trying to do those things without Him.
Before you make the decision, abide.
Before you send the text, abide.
Before you respond out of frustration, abide.
Before you walk into the meeting, abide.
Jesus doesn’t want to simply be included in the life we’re building. He wants to be the source of it. And, the answer to that is a deeper dependence. Real spiritual maturity is becoming increasingly aware of how much we need Him in every moment.
Where have I used my talent and hard work to supersede my dependency? Where have we said “this doesn’t really matter so” and moved on our own ambitions? Where have I been striving instead of abiding?
As for me, Lord, teach me to abide. I would rather lay at Your feet then sit at a table for kings. I would rather rest near You than fight for man’s attention of empty praise and facade. For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. Lord, keep me connected to You. Apart from You, I can do nothing.
– AAA
So Will I 