"One Thing"

Luke 10:42

Let me rivet the attention of your heart upon "one thing". (1.) In Psalm 27:4 David said, "ONE THING HAVE I DESIRED OF THE LORD!" The man after God's own heart desired but "one thing" and sought but "one thing" from the Lord - "That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life." David desired to dwell in the conscious awareness of Christ's manifest presence, in sweet communion on earth and perfect communion in heaven. - "To behold the beauty of the Lord," by faith here, and face to face hereafter. - "And to inquire in his temple," to be taught and directed by his Spirit, and to be taught perfectly in his glorious presence. (2.) In Luke 10:42 our Lord told Martha, "ONE THING IS NEEDFUL!" It is true, we live in this world with many cares and responsibilities, which we must not neglect. Yet, even in this world, only one thing is needful. And that one thing is Christ. "Martha was cumbered about much serving." Martha was "careful and troubled about many things." How sad! Mary chose one thing. Mary sought one thing. The one thing Mary sought is the one thing needful - Christ Jesus. Mary "sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word!" How blessed! (3.) In John 9:25 the blind man, whose sight had been restored by the power of God, said, "ONE THING I KNOW!" He knew that once he was blind. And he knew who caused him to see. That was enough! If you see the things of God, you know who caused you to see. Like the blind man, you lay all praise at the feet of Christ. If you know this one thing, you know enough! (4.) In Philippians 3:13 the Apostle Paul said, "ONE THING I DO!" We have not yet attained perfection, or even come close. We have not yet won the prize we seek, perfect conformity to Christ. But this one thing we must do - "Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before," we must "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." We must persevere, expending every effort, using every means, seeking the Lord Jesus Christ, until at last we are found in him, righteous, perfectly holy, perfectly conformed to Christ in body, soul, and spirit by the grace of God.

Don Fortner