Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens (Hebrews 7:26 NIV).

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How often do you think about your need for oxygen? Probably not very often.

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But I bet if you run, or work out aerobically, you think about oxygen.

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If you’ve ever climbed a mountain, you think about oxygen.

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If you’ve ever blown on a fire, you might think about oxygen.

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If you’ve ever been under water for a bit too long, you think about oxygen.

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We know about air, the miraculous blend of oxygen and nitrogen that enables us to breathe. We don’t need the nitrogen in the air (nitrogen just dilutes oxygen so it’s safe to breathe), but we do need oxygen. I know that my body requires it to live, and I know it’s present all the time, but I really only think about it when I need it. I don’t think about it most of the 20,000 times I breathe a day, but I sure think about it when I’m gasping for air. I think about it when my lungs are burning, and I crave air.

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How often do you think about how much you need Jesus?

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In many ways, I think of Jesus like I think of oxygen. He’s always present, whether I think of Him or not. I don’t physically see Him, but I can see signs of His presence. Most importantly, I need Him constantly, but like oxygen, I don’t think about Him constantly; instead, I take Him for granted. I think about Him when I need Him, when I want something, when I’m at church, when I pray or read my Bible, when I see beautiful creation, when I give Him thanks.  But that accounts for relatively little time during the week.  

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It’s easy to rely on God during trying times, during struggle, during pain. The psalmist of Psalm 42 wrote about his need for God in troubling times, when we are gasping for him. The psalmist (attributed to a son of Korah, not King David), wrote in Psalm 42:1, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” This is a wonderful reflection of how I’d like to think of God all the time. But like the author, I think of Jesus when I need Him. For this psalmist, it was written during times of trouble, when he was calling out for help. He didn’t write it during a normal day, or when things were good.  

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In today’s Scripture, the author of Hebrews also acknowledges our constant need for Jesus – Jesus meets our every need, whether we know we have a need or not.

Here is a great example of someone thinking of Jesus all the time: In 1872, on a beautiful June morning, a 37-year-old woman named Annie Sherwood was doing chores in her home in Brooklyn, New York.  She was struck by a sense of God’s presence, and she wrote a hymn that became a classic – “I Need Thee Every Hour.”  It acknowledges our constant need for Jesus.

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I encourage you to consider how much and how often you need Jesus – consider each and every time you breathe Him in; rejoice in His presence; celebrate His life-giving Spirit; breathe deeply into His love; thank Him for His many blessings; exult in His creative genius when you see the Chugach Mountains and the splendor of Alaska; praise Him when you see people.

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Sing

Think about the words to “I Need Thee Every Hour,” play it on your phone, or sing it thoughtfully:  

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1 I need Thee ev'ry hour, most gracious Lord; no tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

Refrain:
I need Thee, O I need Thee; ev'ry hour I need Thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.

2 I need Thee ev'ry hour, stay Thou nearby; temptations lose their pow'r, when Thou art nigh. [Refrain]

3 I need Thee ev'ry hour, in joy or pain; come quickly and abide, or life is vain. [Refrain]

4 I need Thee ev'ry hour, teach me Thy will; and Thy rich promises, in me fulfill. [Refrain]

5 I need Thee ev'ry hour, most Holy One; O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son. [Refrain]