Titus 3:14 English Standard Version (ESV) And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.

What does our urgent needs look like today?

Urgent needs change over time as we survive one calamity after another. In our earliest stages of salvation our urgent needs were for a Savior. We knew we were lost and our need for salvation took first place. Then as we were fed and clothed we became comfortable if not complacent with our salvation.

Then we needed to love and we found a place within community to share our love and fellowship began to strengthen our bonds of love and we grew. As we grew our sphere of influence grew and we found we could be used to serve a wider place in His Kingdom. Then we saw our calling and met more and more needy peoples.

We met needs and saw they neglected their own salvation and we felt used. We looked to our bibles and saw how Jesus was abused and felt that connection.We must be in league with righteousness because we suffer as Christ suffered. We got comfortable with being used and felt God was at work even if we did not see results.

At some point we got so busy with the work that we neglected our own daily salvation simply because we had long ago lost that sense of urgency when we first came to Christ. Maturity brings us closer to Christ and a terrible things happens in our flesh that we did not notice happen.

My daughter’s words ring out and crippled my soul this morning. “I don’t need to be fathered anymore.”

Luke 23:34 English Standard Version (ESV) And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

In our haste to grab our tiny bit of His righteousness, we have forgotten where forgiveness begins and neglected to confess and admit we need to be Fathered.