Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

July 4
Friday


DEPENDENCE
DAY

READ:
John 15:1-13
___________________________________________________________________________________________
I am the vine, you are
the branches. He who
abides in Me, and I in
him, bears much fruit;
for without Me you
can do nothing.
__John 15:5
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In the US, the Fourth of July is a national holiday when outdoor grills are heated up; beaches are packed; and cities and towns have parades and fireworks displays, picnics, and patriotic celebrations. All of this is in remembrance of July 4, 1776, when the 13 American colonies declared their independence.

Independence appeals to all ages. It means "freedom from the control, influence, support, and aid of others." It's not surprising that teenagers talk about gaining their independence. Many adults have the goal of being "independently wealthy." and senior citizens want to maintain their independence. Whether anyone is ever truly independent is a discussion for another time and place__but it sounds good.

Craving political or personal independence is one thing; daring to pursue spiritual independence is problematic. What we need instead is a recognition and acceptance of our deep spiritual dependence. Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and i in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

Far from being self-reliant, we are totally and eternally dependent on the One who died to set us free. every day is our "dependence day.
__Bill Crowder

````````````````````````I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;```````````````````````
````````````````````````No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.``````````````````````
````````````````````I need Thee, O I need Thee; every hour I need Thee!```````````````````
`````````````````O bless me now, ,my Savior, I come to Thee. __hawks/Lowry```````````````
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Our greatest strength comes
from dependence on our strong God.

*********************************Today's Bible Reading __ John 15:1-13********************************

1 I am the true vine, and My
Father is the vinedresser.

2 Every branch in Me that
does not bear fruit He takes
away; and every branch that
bears fruit He prunes, that it
may bear more fruit. 3 You
are already clean because of
the word which I have
spoken to you. 4 Abide in
Me, and I in you. As the
branch cannot bear fruit of
itself, unless it abides in the
vine, neither can you, unless
you abide in me.

5 I am the vine, you are the
branches. He who abides in
Me, and I in him, bears much
fruit; for without Me you can
do nothing. 6 If anyone does
not abide in me, he is cast
out as a branch and is
withered; and they gather
them and throw them into the
fire, and they are burned. 7 If
you abide in Me, and My
words abide in you, you will
ask what you desire , and it
shall be done for you. 8 By
this My Father is glorified,
that you bear much fruit; so
you will be my disciples.

9 As the Father loved Me, I
also have loved you; abide in
My love. 10 If you keep My
commandments, you will
abide in My love, just as I
have kept My Father's
commandments and abide in
His love. 11 These things I
have spoken to you, that My
joy may remain in you, and
that your joy may be full.

12 This is My commandment,
that you love one another as I
have loved you. 13 Greater
love has not one than this,
than to lay down one's life
for his friends.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

There are two sides to the word picture of Jesus and His followers as
a vine and branches. On the one side, His followers, the branches,
are totally dependent on Him, the vine. But as the vine, He freely
and generously supplies what we need to bear fruit.