I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.
I Need Thee Every Hour
By: Annie S. Hawks, 1836-1911 (1872)
Listen to this beautiful piano version as you read, or watch the video then read. Please be sure to experience the worship-cultivating podcast below.
Having established who it is exactly that we are calling out to and why, we turn our attention to the remedy and it’s implications. Think of it in terms of possession and position. Let’s think about this.
Possession
As I look at this second line, it appears to me to be an issue of possession. Let me explain.
We are asking for the Most Holy One to make us His possession. We see this as a remedy for our neediness. If we belong to Him we assume we will have everything we need because He will supply it. This is a reasonable assumption since He has not only chosen to meet our deepest need, salvation, but did so by becoming the provision.
Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:14 ESV
Jesus made us His by offering His life on our behalf. His sacrifice redeemed us and purified us for Him. We are His people.
It is interesting how the Scripture decides to describe us. Of all the ways it could characterize God’s people, it says we will be zealous for good works. Since zealous is a bit uncommon, let me define it.
To have zeal is to posses great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective. As God’s people we must have a great enthusiasm for good works. This preoccupation with the work God has in store for us informs our focus. We are not fixated on our need. Instead we are intentional about meetings the needs of others, spiritually and otherwise.
Do you see the connection between being a person of God, and doing the work of God? Do you understand how that preoccupation takes your focus from your need and puts it squarely on the needs of others? Where are you that continuum? Have you asked Jesus to make you His possession? If so, is your life marked by a desire to do the work of God? Ask God to show you how you can shift your focus from your need to someone elses.
Position
Jesus making me His possession has some implications. Some of them have to do with doing as indicated above, others with being. Though there are distinctions to be made between these two, it is also important to realize the importance of the being simply because it actually informs the doing. and our being flows out of the One who has taken possession of us.
He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” Matthew 17:5 ESV
At His baptism and here at His transfiguration, the Father acknowledges His Son, His beloved, blessed Son. Moses and Elijah also appeared with Him, but it was the Son whose sacrifice makes us the possession of the Father. The Son changes our position with the Father from one of orphans to adopted children.
The three disciples on the mount with Jesus wanted to create tabernacles to worship there, one each for Jesus, Moses and Elijah, but Jesus had something else in mind. He wanted to make them tabernacles, caring around the presence of God. He wants to do the same in us.
And He has positioned us to be reflectors of His glory. Our dependence on Him is one of the best ways we reflect His presence, not by pretending we have it all together, but acknowledging we know the One who does.
When we do that, we are transfigured. We become more like Christ. We are filled with light and love. And God is pleased with us.
What situations do you already know will be a part of your day where you will need Him? Determine now to reflect the position you have in Christ to the world around you. Not sure how to do that? Simply ask for help and trust your position in Christ to supply it.
Jesus, make me Yours, and position my life in You that I may know Your supply for every need. Have Your way in me today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Purposeful Thinking!
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Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below! It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.
Podcast 11.5 Transcript
Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.
I need Thee every hour,
Matthew 26:40 ESV
And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour?”
Jesus told His three closest disciples He was sorrowful to the point of death and asked them to pray. When He returned He found them sleeping. If they could not stay awake on their own, how much more we need God, to stay awake and alert. Tell Him again you need Him.
most Holy One;
Luke 1:35 ESV
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
The Holy One we are crying out to in this stanza is the Son. This account of His conception confirms that He would be called holy. He is utterly unlike us, yet because He became one of us, He knows our need. Thank the Most Holy One for being familiar with us.
Oh, make me Thine indeed,
Titus 2:14 ESV
Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Jesus made us His by offering His life on our behalf. His sacrifice redeemed and purified us for Him. We are His people. We can best model that when we engage in good works with great energy and enthusiasm. Thank Him that you are His, and ask for His help showing it.
Thou blessed Son.
Matthew 17:5 ESV
He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
At His baptism and here at His transfiguration, the Father acknowledges His Son, His beloved, blessed Son. They wanted to create tabernacles to worship there, but Jesus was going to make them tabernacles. Ask the Son to make His home in you again today.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.
I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.
Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.
Image Attributions
Crucifixion – https://pixabay.com/photos/good-friday-crucifixion-1734261/
Transfiguration – https://pixabay.com/photos/church-window-church-window-jesus-1704825/
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