The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. (Heb. 1:3)

Having a pet means you take on the responsibility of their livelihood. They do not have the ability to find their own food nor can they clean up after themselves. And, while you do not provide the air they breathe, you do provide every other means of their sustenance. This is why parents will often start their kids off with a low-maintenance pet before allowing them to have a more demanding pet, such as a dog. Then once the child proves himself responsible, parents are more comfortable taking that next step. The hope is that the child, at this point, understands they are responsible for the sustenance for their pet. And, without their care, the pet could not survive.

This however, is not the case with Jesus. He does not need to understand he is our sustenance. He already knows. The challenge is we do not always understand this concept. At times, we mistake our ability to provide for ourselves in the world as the responsibility to provide our own sustenance.

It’s a responsibility too big for all of mankind. Only God can be the sustenance for his creation. And Jesus, as his Son, seals the reality and finality of this truth as our Savior. Without him, we cease to exist. Thus, just as pets depend on their owners, we must solely depend on our Creator.

Relinquish control of your life to the Son’s sustaining power.

Tara Klein, a lover of words, shares her imperfect, unconventional Christian journey as a female, mother, and wife to invite others into God’s unconditional love.

© 2019 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.