The Need of the Hour…

Posted on June 25, 2020 by Catey Stover in Freedom Fighters

I remember following the coverage of hurricane Harvey and how much was said of the devastation left in its wake… ruined homes, stranded families, and impoverished communities. One would think that the need of the hour then was money… I remember many people answering that need with millions of dollars given to help. But is money enough to meet the need of the heart in anguish from such tragedy? One video that brought tears to my eyes was of a shelter with families covering every inch of space, clutching what little they had left of their lives… yet they were singing praises to our God. Reminded me of Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail singing and praising their God!

 

Many of those interviewed about their losses in that hurricane said it was just ‘stuff’ which they can purchase again, but they were really thankful that their families were still together. This is true and something we usually only appreciate in ‘the storms of life’, so yes money is needed, but it’s not the ‘need of the hour.’

 

The word I remember thinking about then was ‘perseverance.’ I remember during hurricane ‘Sandy’ we lost power for over a week. I think back to what it took to maintain the generator and house both day and night, and the perseverance it took to press forward as the days dragged on. I am thankful we didn’t lose the house as many in ‘Harvey’ did, and I remember thinking they will need a greater perseverance to press forward in the aftermath of that storm.

 

So maybe the ‘need of the hour’ is what will give us Hope to sustain our perseverance? If you have ever lived through a tragic situation, an acute or terminal illness of a loved one, a loss of life or property, a severe conflict, or a pandemic you know how draining it is and how tired and ready to give up you become; the central or core ‘need of the hour’ then must be what gives and sustains Hope; that core belief or idea that lifts our spirit and makes us able to sing in ‘the midst of life’s storms.’

 

Dawson Trotman wrote that what generates the kind of hope that will rejuvenate perseverance is, “an army of Believers, dedicated to Jesus Christ, who believe not only that He is God, but that He can fulfill every promise He has ever made, and that there isn’t anything too hard for Him.” It is on this substantiate truth “that our God is able to fulfill every promise”, that we are able to press on, knowing with certainty that He will meet the needs of our heart, by which we can also then face every circumstance.

 

The promises of a sovereign God trump the problems of life. It is when I am certain of who God is and what He has promised, that I am able to stand firm in any storm or battle. When I realize the full assurance given us through the Spirit, then I press on in obedience to God’s Word with unfeigned dependence, doing what pleases Him, and that is, living by faith.

 

The ‘need of the hour’ no matter the circumstance, is to ‘know’ the One who created and sustains all things. It is to accept the gift of the One who knows your heart and provides for your every need. This truth is evident in God’s giving of His only Begotten Son to satisfy the cost of yours and my sin. The ‘need of the hour’ is to rest in the One who has promised to never leave you nor forsake you, now and for all eternity.

 

Jesus has set the example we are to follow here, for the writer of Hebrews tells us, “for the Joy set before Him (that is obeying the Father), He ‘endured’ the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has ‘endured’ such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Heb 12:2-3 ESV)

 

What is the ‘need of the hour?’ It is ‘to trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on our own understanding. And in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV)

 

Choose wisely…

Praying 4 U

 

Written by David Brown: David Brown is a husband, father, grandfather, Pastor with a Masters of Religious Studies and a Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Dave is the Associate Pastor of Pemberton’s First Baptist Church.


Think About This: “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” – Corrie Ten Boom

The Daily Bible Reading: Proverbs 8-12| You can download our 2020 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here. 

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. –Acts 4:13

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.

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