(Audio)
There is need of only one thing.
Most of us hear this but don't believe it.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (see Matthew 6:33).
Most of us still busy ourselves with saving our lives in this world even though that may ultimately mean losing them. It is certainly makes it harder for us in the long run. It makes a more painful purification necessary as God helps us to loosen our grip of control over our lives.
Here is a common deception about the one thing necessary. We tend to believe that this pertains to spiritual things, to philosophy, and to morality only. We don't think this one thing is necessary to our daily lives, driving cars, eating food, interacting with friends and strangers, or even entertaining guests. But in all the pursuits of life, the one thing necessary is still the only thing that is truly necessary. We hear our thoughts protest: how anything will get done if take this seriously? But when we take it seriously even more will get done in a way that may seem miraculous in retrospect, because none of it will have been done apart from Jesus.
Let us turn back to the one thing necessary. God is more than ready to relent from his plans for us to learn the hard way if we are willing to be docile and teachable.
When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way,
he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them;
he did not carry it out.
The LORD isn't inviting us to put him first just so he can keep score and accuse us when we don't do it. He's inviting us to do it because it is what makes for genuine human flourishing.
Let Israel wait for the LORD,
For with the LORD is kindness
and with him is plenteous redemption;
And he will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities.
Let us turn to him with our whole hearts, our whole minds, and all of our strength.
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