One Thing

“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 enquire in his temple.” (Psalms 27:4)

Like David, let us set our hearts upon “one thing,” seek that to the exclusion of all other things, and let the “One Thing” we seek be the Lord Jesus Christ himself. — “Grant me Thyself, O Lord, and I will ask no more.”

If I understand the aim and purpose of the gospel I preach, it is just this: — It is to cause all the capacities, powers, talents, ambitions, and affections of our hearts to be concentrated upon one object and to beat with one pulse for that object. And that one object upon which our hearts must be fixed is the Son of God, our blessed Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, that God would make us a people with one, solitary object possessing our beings, a people whose hearts burn with desire for nothing but Christ! This is my prayer, “Lord, compel me, by whatever means necessary, by the irresistible power and grace of your Spirit, to set my heart upon Christ alone.”

I know this: — You and I must choose what we will seek and what we will serve. It will either be Christ and the cause of his glory in this world, or it will be the world and the lusts of our own flesh. We cannot serve both. And we cannot have both. — “Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). — “Choose you this day whom ye will serve” (Joshua 24:15).

Will I serve Christ or self? Will I seek Christ, or the lusts of my flesh? This is a choice that is made at the beginning of the walk of faith. But it is also a choice that is made day by day in every believer’s experience. And the older we get, the longer we live in this world, the more difficult it is to renounce the world, say no to the flesh, take up our crosses daily, and follow Christ. But it must be done! — “Seek ye first,” above all else, to the exclusion of all else, “the kingdom of God,” the rule of Christ in your heart, “and his righteousness,” the righteousness of Christ, by faith, and all other things will be supplied by your heavenly Father (Matthew 6:33). — “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth” (Matthew 6:19). Earthly treasures of every kind are vanity. Do not set your heart upon vanity! Set your heart upon Christ

One Thing Desired

The man after God’s own heart desired 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.

One Thing Needful

In Luke 10:42 our Lord said to 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!

One Thing Known

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!

One Thing Done

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 our blessed Savior in body, soul, and spirit by the grace of God. — Then “shall I be satisfied, when I awake in thy likeness” (Psalm 17:15).

Don Fortner

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