you can listen to this message here if you wish https://freetts.com/audio/ad0c6fe3-5a94-45e7-ad03-d0edcaabf960.mp3
Matt 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
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This is the story of the rich young man. He was a good man. An honorable man. A lost man. He had it all, except for one thing! He missed it by just 1thing. He might have been the 13th disciple, maybe even the first pope! He had almost everything he needed to follow the Lord, except for 1thing! Pretty impressive. I would be blown away if the Lord told me I was off by only one thing! ‘Tell me what it is Lord! I’ll do it!!’
Unfortunately the rich young ruler didn’t have that mindset. He wasn’t willing to abandon everything to follow Jesus. The 1thing he lacked was that extreme desire for that 1thing. The ‘want to’. He followed Jesus. He believed in Jesus. He chased after Jesus. But the ‘need to!’ was missing. That 1thing includes many specific things. ‘These things’ that Paul tells us that we should think about, make up the ‘1thing’ that the rich young ruler was missing. As I said before, to have the singular ‘mindset’ of wanting to follow Jesus, you have to think of these things, to renew your mind daily. Don’t dwell on anything else or it will affect you. A renewed mind will get you the 1thing in life that matters, Jesus!
Phillipians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Paul goes on to say that the God of peace will be with you if you think on these things to get the 1thing you really need. Think about anything else will bring you sickness, worry, anxiety, mental health problems etc. The rich young ruler really wanted to follow Jesus. He actively pursued Him. He lived a good righteous life. He did it all, but he wasn’t all in. He had family concerns. Business concerns. Obligations. Lots of distractions. If the rich young ruler was singular in focus, only wanting Jesus, the other stuff wouldn’t have mattered. I am fully convinced that if he had abandoned all, that he wouldn’t have lived the rest of his life in poverty. It was just a test. He was thinking about everything else, but not these specific things. Not thinking in these things distracts you from the 1thing in your life that matters, a personal relationship Jesus!
Matt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Only 1thing matters. The rest is consequential. Our lives are so complicated. For example, I would really love to see a world wide revival, starting in my heart and in Winnie’s heart. But I can’t see how God is going to do it. I know He can, but I am so tied up with obligations, business and ministry that I am afraid I’d miss it. We teach our staff and children the best we can to seek God first, but again, life is complicated. For them and for us. How do I prepare a child’s heart for revival if my heart isn’t prepared.
People say, ‘I’m extremely busy’ as though that’s some kind of badge of honor. It’s really a sign of other things. We are all extremely busy. Who isn’t? I don’t know anyone who isn’t ‘extremely busy, slammed etc’ except street children and old homeless alcoholics. Everyone is ‘slammed’ *which is the newest term I think*. Again Jesus said it best. Let’s be more like Mary and less like Martha Let’s go after the 1thing and teach the PureHeartChildren’sFund kids, as well as our own kids, and everyone we come into contact with to do the same. We need to take time out of our business, press pause, and seek out the 1thing that really matters
Luke 10:41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
LOVE DEAN AND WINNIE PETERS
