Focus: That One Thing

Text: Phil.3:13

"THIS ONE THING I DO…"

The Scripture presents us with a couple of ONE THING to carefully consider, take to heart, and act upon or live by. Let me share them with you.

1. One thing not to be ignorant about

Peter says, "But, beloved, be not IGNORANT of THIS ONE THING, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2Pet.3:8). Have it in your mind and consciousness that God's calendar is different from ours. His sense of mathematics or arithmetic is beyond us. He alters times and seasons. The Lord Jesus Himself says that "timing is the Father's business."

2. One thing to know

A man once blind said, "ONE THING I KNOW, that, whereas I was blind, now I see" (Jh.9:25). What's that one thing Christ has done in your life that, like Job, you can boldly say, "I know that my redeemer liveth"? Concrete knowledge. Knowledge born out of divine encounter.

3. One morsel of meat you mustn't eat

The writer of Hebrews says, "Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for ONE MORSEL of MEAT sold his birthright" (Heb.12:16). For one morsel of meat, not many, Esau relinquished a priceless, precious and eternal birthright. Put up a sign on your birthright and eternal heritage: Not For Sale. Value your divine birthright.

4. One city to seek

Hebrews 13:14 says, "For here have we no continuing city, but WE SEEK ONE to come." God is the maker and builder of that one city. It's an eternal city. It's the city of our hope and dreams. It's the city of bliss. The only city where there's no Satan, no demons, no death, no evil, no sin, no night, no tears, absolutely nothing negative.

5. One utmost desire

David said, "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" (Ps.27:4). That should be the ultimate longing of your heart - DWELLING in God's house all your life, BEHOLDING His beauty, and INQUIRING in His temple.

6. The one needful thing

The Lord Jesus says, "But ONE THING is NEEDFUL: and Mary hath chosen THAT GOOD PART, which shall not be taken away from her" (Lk.10:42). Never settle for less. Make the right choice. Treasure God's spirituality.

7. One lack that impoverishes

Jesus says to a young rich man, "ONE THING thou LACKEST…" (Mk.10:21). Check yourself out. You are lacking something that is essential and vital, a deficit that God alone supplies. Is it lack of faith, love, or character?

8. One thing to do

Paul declares, "This ONE THING I DO, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before…" (Phil.3:13). What's that one thing you must devote your whole energy to? One thing - not many things! One focus. One passion. One devotion. One pursuit. Find that one thing, and do it. Amen.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter