June 18th, 2024
How many of you would say your life is busy? Many of us have to-do lists, written or mental, that we never quite complete. This week, the Lord reminded me, and I want to remind you, that only one thing matters.
Now, that’s not to say the day-to-day, mundane aspects of life aren’t important. Diligence in everything we do reflects our character, and those things are important. However, we must remember that busyness doesn’t always reflect purpose. Our time is our most valuable resource. It’s completely nonrenewable and every moment is a gift. If the things we fill our lives with aren’t fueled by the purpose God has given us, then even good things become the wrong use of our time.
I don’t say this to be condemning. It’s a revelation that will set us free! In a race, the runner only wins if they continually run toward the finish line. That seems obvious, but so many of us take unintentional detours, distracted by things on the sideline. These may not be bad or sinful things, just things that lack purpose and take our eyes off Jesus.
Only one thing matters.
We see this in the Bible when Jesus visited the home of a woman named Martha. It says,
“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.†(Luke 10:38-40)
On the surface, Martha doesn’t seem wrong in this story. She welcomed a special guest into her home and was focused on the necessities that hosting would entail. However, Jesus responded,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.†(Luke 10:41-42)
This is such a powerful lesson.
There will always be things to do, even good things. Martha wasn’t out using her time frivolously. She was serving Jesus Himself. However, Jesus was there, and the tasks didn’t matter then. We must learn to prioritize sitting at the feet of Jesus! That’s the good portion.
The work will wait, but there are moments in His presence we can’t miss.
David understood this truth and it didn’t come from religious zeal, but captivation with the beauty of the Lord. Psalms 27:4 says,
“One thing have I asked 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 gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.’
Is that the cry of your heart? That’s the kind of passion that sets a soul on fire.
“One thing have I asked.â€
Our lives must be defined by this cry.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:33,
“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.â€
When you seek first the kingdom, everything else aligns with that trajectory and all the things you could have spent your life seeking will be provided. The greatest commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself†(Luke 10:27).
When you draw near to God, He will draw near to you and it’s that intimacy that will motivate passion for His kingdom. This week, I want to encourage you to seek that one thing.
Seeking isn’t passive and we won’t find if we don’t seek. In Matthew 13:44-46, Jesus told two parables to emphasize the value of the kingdom of heaven. He said,
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.â€
Both men sold everything they had for the thing they found. Today, I encourage you to allow any noise to die down until the cry of your heart is for that one thing. It’s the place that peace and purpose are found.
“One thing have I asked, and that will I seek.â€
What are you seeking?
Now, that’s not to say the day-to-day, mundane aspects of life aren’t important. Diligence in everything we do reflects our character, and those things are important. However, we must remember that busyness doesn’t always reflect purpose. Our time is our most valuable resource. It’s completely nonrenewable and every moment is a gift. If the things we fill our lives with aren’t fueled by the purpose God has given us, then even good things become the wrong use of our time.
I don’t say this to be condemning. It’s a revelation that will set us free! In a race, the runner only wins if they continually run toward the finish line. That seems obvious, but so many of us take unintentional detours, distracted by things on the sideline. These may not be bad or sinful things, just things that lack purpose and take our eyes off Jesus.
Only one thing matters.
We see this in the Bible when Jesus visited the home of a woman named Martha. It says,
“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.†(Luke 10:38-40)
On the surface, Martha doesn’t seem wrong in this story. She welcomed a special guest into her home and was focused on the necessities that hosting would entail. However, Jesus responded,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.†(Luke 10:41-42)
This is such a powerful lesson.
There will always be things to do, even good things. Martha wasn’t out using her time frivolously. She was serving Jesus Himself. However, Jesus was there, and the tasks didn’t matter then. We must learn to prioritize sitting at the feet of Jesus! That’s the good portion.
The work will wait, but there are moments in His presence we can’t miss.
David understood this truth and it didn’t come from religious zeal, but captivation with the beauty of the Lord. Psalms 27:4 says,
“One thing have I asked 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 gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.’
Is that the cry of your heart? That’s the kind of passion that sets a soul on fire.
“One thing have I asked.â€
Our lives must be defined by this cry.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:33,
“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.â€
When you seek first the kingdom, everything else aligns with that trajectory and all the things you could have spent your life seeking will be provided. The greatest commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself†(Luke 10:27).
When you draw near to God, He will draw near to you and it’s that intimacy that will motivate passion for His kingdom. This week, I want to encourage you to seek that one thing.
Seeking isn’t passive and we won’t find if we don’t seek. In Matthew 13:44-46, Jesus told two parables to emphasize the value of the kingdom of heaven. He said,
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.â€
Both men sold everything they had for the thing they found. Today, I encourage you to allow any noise to die down until the cry of your heart is for that one thing. It’s the place that peace and purpose are found.
“One thing have I asked, and that will I seek.â€
What are you seeking?
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