BURNING THE SHIP OF SELF-RELIANCE ...

Christ calls us to burn the SHIP OF SELF-RELIANCE so we can live a life of dependence on Him, not only as our SAVIOR, but also as our LORD. And if we’re serious about growing up before we grow old, then we’ve got to be willing to burn the SHIP OF SELF-RELIANCE.

Friends, God wants to raise us up to spiritual maturity, but it won’t happen if we refuse to admit that Jesus Christ is the Teacher and we’re the student. It won’t happen if we refuse to admit that Jesus Christ knows everything, and that we have everything to learn – that He is God and we aren’t.

In fact, using this student/student teacher analogy about Himself and His ongoing relationship with us following salvation, Jesus said in Luke 6:40, “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.”

As we burn the SHIP OF SELF-RELIANCE, we not only tell God, but we also show God that we understand and accept the Truth that He has the complete right to tell us how to live life, how to shape our priorities, how to define success, how to chart our goals, how to treat others, how to adopt His principles and take on His character.

And this really hits at the core of who we are. Because if we’re honest, everyone of us will admit straight up that we’re stubborn, selfish people, who want our own way, who want to map-out our own objectives, who don’t want anyone telling us what to do, where to go, or how to spend our money.

In an exchange between Alice and the Cheshire Cat, in his book Alice’s Adventure In Wonderland, author Lewis Carroll tells us that where we’re going at any given moment has got to dovetail with our goal of where we want to finish up at the end of all our given moments. Carroll writes …

“Which way do you want me to go?” Alice asked the Cheshire Cat. “Would you tell me, which way I ought to go from here?” “depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the cat. “Oh, I don’t care much where,” said Alice. “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” replied the cat.

If we want the result of spiritual maturity, then it matters which way we go and who we’re depending on for our directions.

So God calls us to BURN THE SHIP OF SELF-RELIANCE and let Him be at the front of the bike, our LORD, guide and teacher. Godspeed.

read.think.pray.live.

Gregg