Our Dependence on God
“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their land. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being.’’ (Acts 17:26-28)
Happy 244th Independence Day! On this day, we commemorate our young nation’s independence from Great Britain. In 1776, John Adams wrote a letter to his wife stating, “the celebration should include pomp and parade…games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other.” Although we have celebrated the 4th of July that way for years, the 2020 celebration may be different – due to all the guidelines in the midst of a pandemic.
For believers, this is proof that this world is temporary, and all things are fleeting. Our hope should not be placed in the things and the pomp of this world -- but only in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The global pandemic and recent tensions unfolding in our nation should bring us to this profound reality: our total dependence should be on God. In John 15:5, Jesus told His disciples, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Life without Christ is meaningless! The current state of our world reveals to us our vulnerability and the uncertainty of life – bringing us to an awareness that we are actually dependent, not on ourselves, but on our certain and dependable God. It is only in Christ that we live and move and have our being, as Acts 17 teaches.
The times in which we live ought to humble us – humble us enough to bring us to our knees in genuine heartfelt prayer. So today, as we celebrate America’s Independence in some different ways, I want you to pause for a moment and pray for the hand of God to move over our nation and our world:
Dear Heavenly Father, we come before Your throne of grace today. We exalt Your Holy Name for You are good and Your mercies endure forever. With humble hearts, we seek Your forgiveness and mercy. May You lift up Your countenance upon us and give us Your peace that transcends all understanding. Be gracious to us, O Lord, and uphold us with Your righteous right hand. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
May this Independence Day be a reminder that our dependence is in God alone!
By George Donkor
Happy 244th Independence Day! On this day, we commemorate our young nation’s independence from Great Britain. In 1776, John Adams wrote a letter to his wife stating, “the celebration should include pomp and parade…games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other.” Although we have celebrated the 4th of July that way for years, the 2020 celebration may be different – due to all the guidelines in the midst of a pandemic.
For believers, this is proof that this world is temporary, and all things are fleeting. Our hope should not be placed in the things and the pomp of this world -- but only in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The global pandemic and recent tensions unfolding in our nation should bring us to this profound reality: our total dependence should be on God. In John 15:5, Jesus told His disciples, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Life without Christ is meaningless! The current state of our world reveals to us our vulnerability and the uncertainty of life – bringing us to an awareness that we are actually dependent, not on ourselves, but on our certain and dependable God. It is only in Christ that we live and move and have our being, as Acts 17 teaches.
The times in which we live ought to humble us – humble us enough to bring us to our knees in genuine heartfelt prayer. So today, as we celebrate America’s Independence in some different ways, I want you to pause for a moment and pray for the hand of God to move over our nation and our world:
Dear Heavenly Father, we come before Your throne of grace today. We exalt Your Holy Name for You are good and Your mercies endure forever. With humble hearts, we seek Your forgiveness and mercy. May You lift up Your countenance upon us and give us Your peace that transcends all understanding. Be gracious to us, O Lord, and uphold us with Your righteous right hand. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
May this Independence Day be a reminder that our dependence is in God alone!
By George Donkor
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