If There’s One Thing

Too often, my wayward, deceitful heart does what it naturally is inclined to do–it deceives me. It tricks me into thinking that if I just could have that one thing, then everything will be fine! Everything will be A-OK, I will be happy — no longer distracted, anxious or worrisome — and all things in my life would fall into place! While that one thing has been put in me by God, it was never intended to have such a high place in my heart; that selfish place that it has in my life I have lifted it up there myself.

Even as I actively deceive myself, I know that to do so is sin in and of itself — not trusting in God’s providence and making that one thing into an idol. And even in this knowledge of sin, there is a Spirit-enabled desire for repentance and obedience, there is an understanding that it is God alone who satisfies. That one thing is a lie, and it is Satan who lies to me, and yet it is God who has given His truth to me. The Word of God, the Truth that is God and has become flesh and called Jesus.

And this is what Christ Jesus says to me now for such a time as this:
“Do not be anxious about your life! Do not be anxious, for while you seek after all these things, your heavenly Father knows that you need them all! Therefore, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:25-34)

Deceive me not, Satan, that there is something better than Jesus, that I need something other than the person of Christ. I will not be tricked, I choose to trust in Christ — the solid rock on which I stand. But whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, I choose to think about these things. Not those selfish things that satisfies my needs and my wants, but those that satisfies the will and desires of God, considering others first before myself.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.

You call us first to love Your name to worship You
To please Your heart, our one desire, oh, Lord

If there’s one thing we are called to do
It’s to love You, to adore You
We will bring our all and worship You
Bow before You as we love You

I will celebrate this love
Jesus, You are everything to me
For what more, Lord, can I do?
I will give this heart this life to You

(”If There’s One Thing“, Tim Hughes)