NSM Evotional 07/03/2012

A Glory Seed Devotional
Easter in June, July, and beyond…

Every year at Easter, when the blooms fall off our Easter Lilies I plant them in our back yard. In 2011 I planted two plants and soon the old plants died and new plants began growing. Then one day inadvertently the lawn mower did them in and we said a few words over their demise and forgot about them. Until this spring, when much to our surprise they pushed their way up through the dirt and into the sunny side of the dirt.

And they grew. And they grew. And blooms began to grow. And they grew until June 28th when we once again had Easter Lilies! The dead came to life and once again beautified our lives!

Let’s turn back the calendar a couple of thousand years, “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.’” (Luke 24:1-7 ESV)

Easter in June and July? Absolutely! And every other month of the year as well! While we only celebrate Easter once a year that does not mean we do not need to experience Jesus’ resurrection only once a year. In November of 1872 the hymn “I Need Thee Every Hour” was first published written by Annie Hawks perhaps her hymn will help us understand our continual need for Jesus.

Verse 1… I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord; No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

Verse 2… I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby; Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.

Verse 3… I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain; Come quickly and abide, or life is in vain.

Verse 4… I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will; And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

Verse 5… I need Thee every hour, most Holy One; O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessèd Son.

Refrain… I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.

Of her hymn Annie later wrote. “…I did not un¬der¬stand at first why this hymn had touched the great throb¬bing heart of hu¬man¬i¬ty. It was not un¬til long af¬ter, when the sha¬dow fell over my way, the sha¬dow of a great loss, that I un¬der-stood some¬thing of the com¬fort¬ing pow¬er in the words which I had been per¬mit-ted to give out to others in my hour of sweet se¬ren¬i¬ty and peace.”

This may be the summer but when I see our Easter Lilies in bloom I can’t help but think that Jesus’ tomb is empty so I can be filled with the power of his resurrection. And the better news is so are you!

Grace and PEACE!
Gary


Note: Should you want to go back and review this Glory Seed or others you can do so by clicking on this link: http://gloryseeds.wordpress.com/.

The words of “I Need Thee Every Hour” and Annie Hawk’s testimony are from www.hymntimel.com.

Scripture quotations marked ESV "Are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved."