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| Volume 18 Number 3 March 2016 | Page 8 |
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| Volume 18 Number 3 March 2016 | Page 8 |
Thomas Baxley
“I need Thee, O I need Thee; every hour I need Thee! O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.” This is the chorus to the 19th century hymn, “I Need Thee Every Hour.” One question I want us to consider is, “Is this true?” In other words, do we really need the Lord every hour? Or, do we just need Him when we are in trouble? Too many of us are like the nation of Israel in the Book of Judges; the only time they needed God was when they were attacked and enslaved by a rival nation. After God delivered the people, however, they went back to their own way, which didn’t include God, until the next time they were in trouble. If we sing with the understanding, then when we sing this song, we understand that God is not a crutch to be used only in times of trouble and trial, but rather in God “we live and move and exist” (Acts 17:28). When we understand this, then can we truly sing, “Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.”
Jesus Christ as King
Thomas Baxley
And I saw heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war. And His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon His head are many diadems; and He has a name written upon Him which no one knows except Himself. And He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may smite the nations; and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11-16)
The message of the New Testament is not “try Jesus.” The message of the New Testament is “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ – this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36).