Saturday, November 2, 2024

 One thing


Jack Davis


Joshua 23:14, “And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.”

Joshua 23:8. “cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.”

Joshua 24:14-15, “Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: … choose you this day whom ye will serve; … as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”


Joshua having reminded his people of the good things that God had done for them, also calls them into account for their attitude for the future. He calls them to consecration, separation, single-hearted devotion to the one true God. We remember the tender words of our beloved Lord when He was coming to the close of His earthly journey. “When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked you any thing? And they said, Nothing (not one thing).” Lk. 22:35. Remember Acts 4:34-35.


We may hear Joshua say, Behold this day, 

I am going the way of all earth born clay. 

As he was about to depart,

He spoke from deep within

Of the contents of their soul and heart.

Surely I am going, and you are certainly knowing ,

That all the good things promised of God,

He has been faithfully bestowing.

Not ONE THING the Lord your God spake 

   concerning you has failed,

Although your enemies have fiercely assailed

For by His hand you have prevailed.

Choose you this day whom you will serve,

Don’t take off and foolishly swerve,

For your whole heart He will always deserve.


SINGULAR DEVOTION 

In the epistles of our apostle Paul we are taught of focused living in our Father’s will. He would have our heart’s centered upon Jesus Christ. For He, as bridegroom is the promised Prize of the high calling. Along the course of our Christian race our adversary will throw many distractions in the way. He would corrupt our minds from single-hearted devotion to Jesus Christ. II Cor. 11:1-3. Believers are warned against leaving off loving Him preminately and becoming cold and indifferent toward Him. We are encouraged to run our race with patience looking unto Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith – Heb. 12:1-3. We must learn not to run aimlessly, but to keep our affections set on Him – I Cor. 9:24-27. 


DIVINELY FOCUSED DESIRE

“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” – Psa. 27:4. With our Father’s purposes in proper focus, we find a singular drive aflame in our hearts. This burning has us yearning, seeking, and dwelling to behold His radiant beauty. We thus wholeheartedly “enquiring” are being transformed into His likeness. Nothing else can quite satisfy this desire.


SPIRITUALLY ENERGIZED CONDUCT

“…This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of god in Christ Jesus,” “let us mind the same thing” – Phil. 3:13-14. Let Paul remind us also to put all our provisions toward the same goal. “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” James 1:8. Consider what that means. We are wonderfully blessed in enjoying closer fellowship with our God. “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.”


FOCUSED FOR ETERNAL GAIN 

“What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest” Mark 10:17,21. This wealthy man approaching Jesus was wearing a heavy chain, for what he had, held him, and was the area wherein he lacked. Jesus touched on that which would divide his loyalties, and would rob him of true wealth, even eternal riches. It doesn’t have to be material wealth that would keep us from single-hearted devotion to our Lord, but what ever we allow to come between us and God’s best. It seems that there are less and less all the time that are out and out, or sold out for the Lord. Yet, just because indifference is the brominate attitude of our day, we dare not get caught up in it, and suffer spiritual loss.


A SINGLE EYE TO THE GLORY OF THE LORD

“…One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see” John 9:25. Then said they (the Pharisees) unto him again, What did he unto thee? How opened he thine eyes? Later they said concerning Jesus, as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. The man answered and said unto the, why herein is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from hence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes” John 9:26,29-30.


There are times that we allow what we think we know to blind us from further truth. At times we let that which we think we see keep us from deeper revelations (I Cor. 8:2-3). The way humanity was to come to know  god, was in their midst in the person of Jesus Christ. He was to reveal the Father to them. What this man knew was real, personal and powerful. It was of more value than all that those Pharisees pretended to know. We believe that one truth, one fact, one scripture made a living reality in the heart, is worth far more than being able to quote the whole Bible, if it just remains theory. When a single scripture is held in a working knowledge it is invaluable. As one truth is made real, we are to allow the Spirit to take us on “line upon line and precept upon precept Isa. 28:10. We will not know it all here but folding will be enjoyed in the eternal state.


CHOOSE THE NECESSARY

“One thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her…Mary, which also sat at Jesus feet, and heard his word’ Luke 10:42&39. Of all our devotion, desire, deeds, and of discerning of true wealth, will find perfect focus, and will reach its ultimate fulfillment in relation to how we have sit at Jesus feet (DESIGNED DINNING) and hear His precious Word.