15. “S. S.” Southampton. You ask, “Will you kindly tell me what dependence is? I try to work myself up to be dependent; I try to work up a certain amount of feeling,” &c. Will you read what Jesus said when they brought unto Him infants? “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, shall in no wise enter therein.” (Luke 18:1; 5-17) Does the little child resting in its mother’s arms of love, try to work itself up to be dependent? Does it try to work up a certain amount of feeling? Does it even try to love that tender, loving mother that cares for it every moment? The flesh is ever restless, and distrusting. But dependence is, as born of God, to rest in confiding trust in Him whose love and care of us can never change.
No doubt you know something of the terrible evil of the flesh; but have you given it up as God has said, “The end of all flesh has come before me?” If we really accept this, God’s conclusion as to the flesh, as to self, then we cease from “trying to work ourselves up.” What a long, a life’s lesson, to learn that we are nothing, and to rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. The trying to work ourselves up is a clear proof we have a little bit of confidence left in flesh. We may talk of being dead with Christ; but a dead man does not work himself up. Now instead of trying, just look through the scriptures, and see what God has made Christ to be to you.