value: dependency on jesus!

Dependency on Jesus!

Apart from Christ, we can do nothing (John 15:5).
We rest in His strength and power and we fulfill our mission (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
We rely on his inerrant word (Hebrews 4:12).

If celebration is our alphabetically-organized first value, dependency on Jesus is alphabetically-organized second value. But dependency on Jesus is deeply foundational. We know that we need to rely on him for everything: for wisdom, for safety, for hope, for purpose.

Depending on Jesus should never, ever absolve us of responsibility for using our brains (which, of course, God gave us). Rather, depending on Jesus should give us courage and confidence as we follow him.

It was a little harder to find a picture to represent dependency on Jesus. I've chosen one of the challenge course because last summer, during Friday night fireside chapels, several kids talked about how the challenge course had taught them something about relying on God. One of the elements on the upper challenge course -- the one pictured below -- is called the Leap of Faith. You get strapped in, you climb up high to a ledge and then ... you leap. More than once, kids talked about how it was a great reminder that God is there to catch us.