DEPEND ON HIM ALONE

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Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me. - Revelation 3:20 AMP

This verse is part of a message that was given by the Head of the Church – Jesus Christ our Lord to the Church at Laodicea. This church had slowly drifted away from communion with and dependence on Christ. The believers there had been deceived into believing that through their own efforts they were self-sufficient in every aspect. That attitude of independence from Christ led them down the path of indifference and lukewarmness. They figured they had it all, they had said of themselves “we have need of nothing” (Revelation 3:17)

The problem was not so much their claims of having it all and needing nothing, it was more to do with the fact that they trusted in their own efforts more than they did in Christ’s ability and provision. In their perceived self-sufficiency, they had lost their child-like faith and the total dependence on Christ that they had when they first believed. They had departed from the simplicity that is in Christ.   

Now, before we pharisaically look down our noses at these Laodicean believers, let’s take stock of our own individual as well as collective situations. Is Christ front and center in our lives or are we now trusting in some other “deeper revelations” or “special” anointings? Are we fully trusting Jesus or have we declared independence from Him? Are we busy trying to impress God with our performance in hopes of earning brownie points with Him? Are we flowing with or frustrating the grace of God in our lives? 

Christ is calling us back to communion and dependence on our First Love – Him! There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) ; condemnation will only serve to heap guilt on us and cause us to drift even farther away from Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. The Holy Spirit is continually pointing us back to Christ and He is always reminding us that we are the righteousness of God in Him. So, when you hear Him knocking on the door of your heart (you are one with Him in spirit already), let Him in and He will reveal His heart to you and as you behold Him you will be transformed into His likeness.

The Lord loves us with an everlasting love and desires to fellowship with us, to share His heart with us as we share ours with Him. God doesn't want you to lean on your own understanding for when you do so, you limit Him, you shut Him out, essentially telling Him we don’t need Him, we can handle stuff on our own; now that’s a recipe for one wretched, miserable sorry life void of the love, power and testimony of Jesus.

Source: Google Images

Beloved, let's stop relying on our own efforts and instead, let's depend on Christ for everything. In all our ways let's trust Him who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. He is the vine, we are the branches and without Him we can do nothing, but through Him we can do all things.

Let's heed this call back to intimacy with the Savior, Lord and Lover of our souls! Amen!