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A Life of Dependence and Discipleship

9/21/23 | The Weekly | by Eric Wakeling

    Dear Calvary Family,

    We are about a month into the new school year for a lot of people, as either students or parents. Even as our Beach Baptisms mark a sort of seasonal transition for us as a church family from summer to fall, my brain processes a shift toward a new year starting each September more than in January.

    Did you know the Bible marks this time of year – when the annual agricultural cycle begins in the land of Israel – with the High Holy Day of Rosh Hashanah? This Hebrew phrase literally means “Head of the Year” and was just celebrated this past weekend by many as the start of the Jewish New Year and the fall festivals as a time of reflection, repentance and joy (Numbers 29, Nehemiah 8). Happy 5784!

    We also tend to start a bunch of new things this time of year here at Calvary Church as new LifeGroups begin, Wednesday night programs kick back into gear, and people generally get back into their rhythms of life that were all over the place during the summer.

    I also feel like around now is when we have settled into those rhythms and patterns and can take a bit of a breath. I’d like to encourage you to take that breath, to reflect on God's faithfulness looking back, and to remember the core of what really matters as we look ahead to what this next year might bring. Here at Calvary, we believe we find that core in dependence and discipleship.
     

    DEPENDENCE


    Dependence includes soaking up the fact that you are deeply and intimately loved by God. Take a moment to just receive the love that the Father has for you.

    Dependence includes trusting and relying on the power of God for your needs.

    Dependence includes prayer that stops and listens for the voice of God in your life.

    Dependence means we believe that “being with God” is more important than our “doing for God.”

    Dependence practices sabbath and knows that rest is doing something.

     

    DISCIPLESHIP


    Discipleship includes receiving the love of God and then giving that away to others.

    Discipleship means that hanging out with people and growing together in Christ is one of the single most important things you can do with your time.

    Discipleship includes a belief that you have something to offer someone else. Yes, you!

    Discipleship is learning to love like Jesus by giving away what you’ve received.

    Discipleship is lived out in relationships, not just events and church programs.


    So let’s focus on the core of what’s most important. Love God, love people, and make disciples. Will you take a moment to evaluate your life? Are you living out dependence and discipleship? Are these sentences above true of your life or at least what you are trusting in God to accomplish? Is the Fruit of the Spirit on display as the result of this mindset, your abiding in Christ, and what God is doing in and through you?

    I am praying for this for you. May God’s power be present with you and in you to live out a life of dependence and discipleship.

    May the Lord bless you and keep you,
    Eric Wakeling