One Thing While there may be many opportunities available for an organization or team to be involved in, to rise above the competition, the opportunities taken will be those that contribute to a single purpose. For the sports team, winning is the main reason for coming together, and other things like cake raffles, community service, and potlucks, though possible side activities, cannot receive the main focus if there is ever to be a win. For the software company to successfully produce applications that are useful and profitable, prioritized time and energy cannot be given to recruiting and practicing for the local basketball league. There may be some merit in nurturing relationships and personal development, but one purpose will drive even these other activities. Otherwise, all other endeavors will lose their value and even contribute to the demise of the group as a whole. In the reception of new life in Christ, we also receive membership into His body, with a very significant purpose. As we join together with other members, there are many activities available to us, both personally and as a body. However, in order for that purpose we’ve been given in Christ to be fulfilled, it must become the priority over every other endeavor. David and Paul were incredibly active and productive in relationships and team building, but there is emphasis from both of them that one purpose drove every other – knowing the heart of the Father. Anything that might detract from this knowledge was seen to be unworthy of consideration. As a result of this focus on one thing, they were able to fulfill a great purpose, not only for themselves, but for the kingdom of God. For us as a gathering of the body of Christ, knowing the heart of God is the goal that will bring meaning and significance to every other thing that is done, both personally and as a group. This passion will ensure that we gather together so that we can effectively grow in that knowledge and be enabled to share it to a world that is lost in darkness. As we are knowing and fulfilling His heart, there will be great purpose given to every other activity as it is only a part of our one thing. Notes Though surrounded with alternatives – one thing Psalms 27:4,8,13-14 (NKJV) 4 One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: 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. 8 When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek." 13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. 14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! One thing Philippians 3:8-14 (NKJV) 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Mary’s one thing Luke 10:41-42 (NKJV) 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” The Father’s heart Deuteronomy 26:17-19 (NKJV) 17 Today you have proclaimed the LORD to be your God, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His judgments, and that you will obey His voice. 18 Also today the LORD has proclaimed you to be His special people, just as He promised you, that you should keep all His commandments, 19 and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the LORD your God, just as He has spoken." Gathering together Psalms 133:1-3 1 How truly wonderful and delightful to see brothers and sisters living together in sweet unity! 2 It’s as precious as the sacred scented oil flowing from the head of the high priest Aaron, dripping down upon his beard and running all the way down to the hem of his priestly robes. 3 This heavenly harmony can be compared to the dew dripping down from the skies upon Mount Hermon, refreshing the mountain slopes of Israel. For from this realm of sweet harmony God will release his eternal blessing, the promise of life forever! To grow Ephesians 4:11-16 (NKJV) 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Going Mark 16:15-18 (NKJV) 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Chosen by His heart 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NKJV) 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. Overview: For those that will overcome there is one thing that drives their focus. Knowing the heart of God is the purpose we’ve been given that will oversee every other goal. The Father’s heart is for us to choose Him and for us to show His praises through our lives. By gathering in unity the Father’s heart is fulfilled and we are positioned for His blessing and promise of life. Together we grow in the knowledge of Him to be a temple for His glory and a voice for His message of salvation. Going we fulfill His heart’s passion for the world to know the Good News of new life in Christ. Prayer: Your heart, O Lord, is my passion To know its every part Your will fulfilled is my longing My life, Your plan, performed One thing have I desired One thing that I will seek Aligning with its beating The heart from which You speak Declarations: I have been chosen by my Father to be joined with Him and His body in a great purpose. All the purposes of my life are given meaning as the Father’s heart is the one thing I seek. The eternal blessing of the Father’s promise of life is released when I gather in unity. Together with His body I grow in the knowledge of Him, matured and equipped for ministry. My greatest fulfillment of life is going to carry the message of my Father’s heart’s passion.