By The Fireside: One Hour In The Balance

“What, could ye not watch with me one hour?”

Matthew 26:40

For a generation who lives life in the moment, we still are reliant on the 60- minute hour.

So much can be done in minutes’ time that used to take up much more of our day: downloading a video to watch, printing out a report, making the commute to work, and even our concept of preparing a meal has reduced down to the minute.

Yet when we look at our future, and begin to fill our calendar with plans, we block off our time in the hour. Why?

Looking forward, we know how time can fly. A visit can stretch from ‘stopping in to say hi’ to an entire afternoon. That errand you were going to run ‘on your way’ diverts the course of your whole day. Time flies, even when it’s not so much fun.

Looking forward, we value the hour. We feel that when we give a whole hour to one task, we are giving it a fighting chance in the arena of other obligations. Lesser times are for lesser tasks. When we place an hour on family time, or to reading, or to fix that screen door, or to cleaning, we are giving our pledge to do that thing right.

The hour is the standard measure of our life and attention in both of quantity and quality. The disciples learned that lesson the hard way in Gethsemane. The piercing question: “Couldest not thou watch one hour?” (Mark 14:37) stuck with Simon Peter and made him ‘the man of the hour.’

Peter made a habit of praying by the hour.

“Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.” (Acts 3:1)

“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer…” (Acts 6:4a)

“They sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them,” (Acts 8:14-15)

“On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour.” (Acts 10:9)

At the end of the Great Tribulation, ten kings are revealed who have neither kingdom nor power. but the Scripture tells us, “but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.” (Revelation 17:12)

What dramatic change could ONE HOUR OF YOUR TIME make if it was redeemed from the Devil and given to the Lord?