By Randy Carlson
We should each be able to go to bed every night and reflect back on the day and know that we took at least one action to move us a little closer to God and His intention for our lives. And that one thing is different for each of us. Here are five snapshots from scripture and five questions that show the power of focusing on ONE THING.
1. David
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? . . . One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: 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” (Psalm 27:1, 4 NKJV).
David, a king, could have asked the Lord for more wealth or more power. But the one thing he asked was to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
What is one thing that you would ask of the Lord?
2. The Rich Young Ruler
When Jesus was teaching, a rich young ruler asked him what he could do to inherit eternal life. Here’s what Jesus said.
“‘You know the commandments: “Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.”’ And he said to him, ‘Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.’ And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (Mark 10: 19-22 ESV).
The ruler lacked trust in God because he wanted to keep all of his wealth.
What is it that you lack?
Mary and Martha
Jesus was at the home of these two sisters. Mary was at His feet worshipping Him, wanting to hear what He had to say. Martha was very busy doing the household chores, and so Martha said, “Jesus how come you’re not telling my sister to come and help?”
And Jesus said to her:
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, but one thing is needed and Mary has chosen the good part, that which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10: 41-42).
In the same way that Martha was distracted, we can become distracted with other things instead of focusing on our relationships with Christ. What is the one thing that is necessary in your life?
4. The Blind Man Who Was Healed by Jesus
Jesus healed a man who had been blind since birth. The Pharisees wanted to catch Jesus committing a sin, so they questioned the healed man and tried to trick him into saying Jesus had done wrong. The healed man responded:
“Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25 ESV). What is the one thing you know for certain?
5. The Apostle Paul In Prison
While Paul was suffering in prison, he wrote this:
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).
Paul had a rough life. And yet after everything he had been through, the exhortation he wanted to share was to know Christ personally.
What is one thing that you must do in your life? David asked for one thing. The rich young ruler lacked one thing. Martha needed one thing. The blind man knew one thing. Paul did one thing.
What is the one thing you ask, the one thing you need, the one thing you lack, the one thing you know you should do, or the one thing that you know for sure?
What is the one thing you can focus on in your life that will bring glory to God and benefit yourself?
[bctt tweet=”What is the one thing you ask, you need, you lack, should do or the one thing that you know for sure? #powerofonething” username=”TheILCenter”]
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