We often allow our lives to become cluttered and complicated. Our list of priorities is made up of many things and we usually end up neglecting what is most important in order to accomplish the lesser things. It's best to set one thing as the priority in life and then let everything else just fall into place as we pursue that one main thing. In other words, our whole life should revolve around just one thing. For many, their life does revolve around one thing, but it's the wrong thing- SELF (2 Tim. 3:2). The Christian life must be all about Christ. He is not to be just part of our life for He is our life (Col. 3:4)!
Let's consider four passages in the Bible that refer to “one thing”. They are about four distinct things but they are related and concern one main thing: our relationship with the Lord.
One Thing I Know
Let's consider four passages in the Bible that refer to “one thing”. They are about four distinct things but they are related and concern one main thing: our relationship with the Lord.
One Thing I Know
John 9:
(24) Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
(25) He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
(24) Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
(25) He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
In the context the Lord Jesus healed a man that was born blind but the unbelieving Pharisees were upset because He healed him on the Sabbath day. Christ, the Lawgiver, is Lord of the Sabbath. He didn't violate His own law but He continually violated the traditions of men that were wrongfully added to the law. This poor blind man gave a simple and honest testimony before the religious leaders that it was Jesus who gave him his sight. But the Pharisees, in their spiritual blindness, willfully refused to see the clear evidence that Jesus was the Son of God (Isa. 35:5). They cast the man out of the synagogue but Christ received him and opened his eyes spiritually (vs.35-39).
All lost sinners are born spiritually blind and are in darkness until they see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ and trust Him as Savior (Acts 26:18; 2 Cor. 4:3-6). Only God can open a blind heart and give spiritual sight.
Can you honestly testify, "one thing I KNOW, that, whereas I was blind, now I see"? That is the most important thing to know! When a blind person receives sight, it is certainly something he knows and wants to tell others about. According to Webster's 1828 dictionary, a testimony is "A solemn declaration or affirmation made for the purpose of establishing or proving some fact." Every child of God has a personal testimony about how they came out of darkness and into the light and they should immediately begin to share it with others. In the book of Acts the apostle Paul unashamedly gives his personal testimony before an angry Jewish mob (Acts 22) and Roman officials (Acts 26). In both cases he testified that he saw a great light from heaven. He was physically blind for three days but at the same time he received spiritual sight. The One that he had hated and fought against, he now loved and served. He also referred to his conversion many times in his epistles. We too should use our personal testimony for the glory of God.
One Thing is Needful
All lost sinners are born spiritually blind and are in darkness until they see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ and trust Him as Savior (Acts 26:18; 2 Cor. 4:3-6). Only God can open a blind heart and give spiritual sight.
Can you honestly testify, "one thing I KNOW, that, whereas I was blind, now I see"? That is the most important thing to know! When a blind person receives sight, it is certainly something he knows and wants to tell others about. According to Webster's 1828 dictionary, a testimony is "A solemn declaration or affirmation made for the purpose of establishing or proving some fact." Every child of God has a personal testimony about how they came out of darkness and into the light and they should immediately begin to share it with others. In the book of Acts the apostle Paul unashamedly gives his personal testimony before an angry Jewish mob (Acts 22) and Roman officials (Acts 26). In both cases he testified that he saw a great light from heaven. He was physically blind for three days but at the same time he received spiritual sight. The One that he had hated and fought against, he now loved and served. He also referred to his conversion many times in his epistles. We too should use our personal testimony for the glory of God.
One Thing is Needful
Luke 10:
(38) Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
(39) And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
(40) But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
(41) And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
(42) But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
(39) And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
(40) But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
(41) And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
(42) But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
In this passage we see a contrast between two sisters that both followed the Lord. Martha was very busy serving but Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus to hear His word. Which one was doing the more important thing? Many would say it was Martha (that's what Martha thought) but the Lord said it was Mary.
We need to follow the example of Mary. We were brought out of darkness into light when we got saved. But we must walk in the light (Ps. 119:105; Eph. 5:8).
- No amount of activity for the Lord can replace time in His word (2 Tim. 3:16-17; Matt. 4:4)
- Yes, we should be busy serving God, but never to the neglect of spending time with Him. This passage is not condemning being busy in the Lord’s work. We don’t have to choose between work and the word. Both are important but one is more needful than the other. We draw strength to work from the word and we only know how to work through the word! I make no apology for laboring in the word (1 Tim. 5:17).
- Mary had also been serving (v.40) but she realized it was more important for her to choose His word over her work.
- Why is it that some Christians always think they know what everyone should be doing?
- Which sister had the most peace? We are not enjoying the peace of God if we, like Martha, are always careful and troubled about MANY THINGS (Phil. 4:6-7).
- Hearing the word of God is a personal choice.
- The profit we get from God’s word is eternal ("shall not be taken away").
We need to follow the example of Mary. We were brought out of darkness into light when we got saved. But we must walk in the light (Ps. 119:105; Eph. 5:8).
- Sit at the feet of the Lord - take time each day to be still before God, requires humility
- Hear the word of Christ - read, study, meditate (Col. 3:16)
One Thing Have I Desired
Psalm 27:
(4) One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
(5) For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
(6) And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
(7) Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
(8) When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
This Psalm is about the help of the Lord in the time of trouble. It has both a historical application to King David and prophetic application to Christ as well as the godly remnant of Israel in the great tribulation. Historically, it was probably written when David was on the run from King Saul or later during Absalom’s rebellion. Either way, he was away from the tabernacle and longed to be back in the house of God. We all have a tendency to take things for granted until they are no longer available to us.
There was just one main desire that David had of the Lord. What is ours, in all honesty? His desire was not the blessings of God (long life, prosperity, victory) but God Himself (v.8)! His all-consuming desire was to worship God. The house of the Lord is in reference to the tabernacle which was the divinely appointed place of worship and service. The beauty of the Lord refers to the scriptural way of worship (Ex. 28:2; Ps. 96:6, 9). To enquire of the Lord is to know His will that you might do it. If we truly know the Lord we will desire to worship Him. We can only know Him through His word. That is why we must sit at His feet and hear His word.
In this present age every member of the body of Christ has full and free access to God. We are the house of God (1 Tim. 3:15-16) and His temple (Eph. 2:18-22)! We are seated with Christ in the heavenly temple (Eph. 2:6). We seek after what we desire (Col. 3:1-4). Do you have a desire to worship God and learn His word (1 Pet. 2:2)?
One Thing I Do
Philippians 3:
(12) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
(13) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
(14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
In the context, Paul has been giving his testimony. As a Pharisee he had trusted in his own righteousness which was of the law but after he met Christ he realized that what he had thought was gain was actually loss. His righteousness was but dung compared to the righteousness of Christ! Upon salvation the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us and upon the rapture we will be glorified into His image. Until then, we must learn to work out our own salvation (Phil. 2:12-13).
- v.12 – We are not yet glorified, but we should have a desire to lay hold on the purpose for which Christ laid hold on us (Rom. 8:28-30).
- v.13 – We should never stop growing! He says, “one thing” but then mentions several. The “one thing” is v.14 but in order to do v.14 we must first do what he says in v.13.
- v.14 – Paul compares the Christian life to a race in several passages. The prize is Christ (v.8, 10) and being conformed to His image. To “press” requires effort!
There is a progression to these four points. Once we have received spiritual light, then we are ready to sit at the feet of Christ and hear His word. Having learned of Him through His word we will worship Him in spirit and truth. Those who know and worship God will walk with Him.
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