Completely, Hopelessly and Joyfully Dependent

It was about three in the afternoon, the hour of prayer, and the temple courts buzzed with activity. Onlookers gathered in amazement at the miraculous event. Peter and John had just taken part in the healing of a man who had been crippled from birth.

Isn't it awesome when you are part of something successful? Maybe it was the time you captured some new business for your company, and you were recognized for your acheivement. It could have been that ministry you helped start that took off like a rocket. Just possibly it was that moment when you realized you were acting with humility...

Independence, self reliance and success stand as pillars of honor in our culture. It's easy to prop ourselves up on these pillars, especially when things are going our way. The problem is that the foundation of these pillars is sinking sand.

Here's what happened next with Peter and John:

"While he was holding on to Peter and John, all the people, greatly amazed, ran toward them in what is called Solomon's Colonnade. When Peter saw this, he addressed the people: 'Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His Servant Jesus whom you handed over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked to have a murderer given to you. And you killed the source of life, whom God raised from the dead; we are witnesses of this. By faith in His name, His name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. So the faith that comes through Him has given him this perfect health in front of all of you'"

Acts 3: 11-16

Notice that Peter said the man was not healed by him, but by faith in Christ. He clarified it further by saying that it was faith that comes through Christ. Faith in Christ healed the man, but Christ was the source of that faith...

We are completely, hopelessly and joyfully dependent on Christ for everything. When we come to this liberating realization we take our lives off the shaky foundations of ourselves and place them on the Rock. I believe that frees us to rejoice in our Savior.

Trust Christ completely. Give Him the glory.