Learning to Rely on God

“Christian living is not our living with Christ’s help, it is Christ living His life in us.  Therefore that portion of our lives that is not His living is not Christian living; and that portion of our service that is not His doing is not Christian service; for all such life and service have but a human and natural source, and Christian life and service have a supernatural and spiritual source.” J.E. Conant

Learning to rely on God is like learning to breath underwater.  Be prepared for a lot of kicking, and struggling, and writhing about.  You will experience times of panic, periods of confusion, and moments of helplessness.  And then God gives you the first challenge!

At this point, you know a lot of the story of what God did in the early years of Life (if not just go back and read some of the initial posts).  God was doing a work in me.  He was working on our pastoral team.  He was at work in our church.  It seemed like a lot of the work came back to responsibilities.  What are we supposed to do and what is God supposed to do?

I can remember wrestling through multiple decisions by saying, “God, I don’t want to get in your way, but I also don’t want to be lazy.  If you could just show me my part—I would be grateful.”  It seemed like a legitimate prayer.  However, my prayers were speaking volumes about my theology.  In my mind, God had His part that I couldn’t do, and I had my part that God wanted me to do.  If God would do His thing, then I could do my thing. 

In my eagerness to help—I actually fell into the trap of self-empowered living.

There’s a great biblical story to illustrate this point.  In John 6, the crowds were seeking Christ (partially out of curiosity and partially out of excitement).  They followed Him to Capernaum and said, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” (v.25).  Jesus tells the crowd that they were seeking Him because of His signs and the fact that they ate the bread that He blessed.  He reminds them that they should seek the things that do not perish, but “endures to eternal life” (v.27). 

Their next question is key.  “Therefore they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?’”  In other words, how can we join with you?  How can we be about the Father’s business?  How can we serve God in a way that endures to eternal life?  Jesus’ reply is amazing!  “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent” (v.29).  Let the fullness of that reply sink in.

• To engage in the work of God is not to receive a vision from God and then attempt to accomplish it yourself.
• To engage in the work of God is not to see a need and try to fill it (as best you can).
• To engage in the work of God is not to “do something even if it’s wrong.”  (There’s a lot of Christians who believe fully in the expression, “It’s better to ask forgiveness than permission.”)
• To engage in the work of God is to believe in Him whom He has sent.

To believe in Him means that we BELIEVE in Him—NOT us.  Our eyes are to stay fixed on Christ.  Our hope is to remain locked on Christ.  Our part in this process is to believe in Him, rely on Him, depend on Him, trust in Him.  If we couple this truth with the abiding principles of John 15—we are really cooking with gas. 

Jesus clearly tells us the secret to bearing spiritual fruit (i.e. character change, good works, the fruit of the Spirit, etc.).  “Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4).  John 15 tells us to “be with Christ.”  John 6 tells us to “believe in Christ.”  When the disciple spends time with Christ and believes in Him—God will accomplish His will through them.  This statement is echoed in Hebrews 13:21 and Philippians 2:13.  What is the takeaway thought?

Christian work is not laboring alongside of God; Christian work is the overflow of an intimate life that believes in Christ to work through us as us.

How does that truth change the way you serve today?  Are you working alongside of God, or is God working through you?

Embracing this truth does not mean that the Christian sits back and does nothing.  Far from it!  For the last 5 years, while practicing this principle—I’ve seen that God has allowed me to be a part of far more work than I ever attempted on my own.  The question is not “Will I be involved in the work of God?”  The question becomes, “Do I trust Him enough to accomplish His work through me?”

Let J.E. Conant’s statement sit in your heart today: “Christian living is not our living with Christ’s help, it is Christ living His life in us.  Therefore that portion of our lives that is not His living is not Christian living; and that portion of our service that is not His doing is not Christian service…”