One Thing...

And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed. --Joshua 23:14

Joshua followed this reminder with a warning, that just as all the good things had come to pass according to the Lord's promises, all the bad would come to pass for their disobedience and adultery.  If we indeed remember the one thing--that none of the Lord's good promises will ever fail us--then our hearts will be less likely to disobey and turn away from God.  I was reminded by a dear brother in the Lord this morning that our standing before the Lord never changes!  If we could only walk in that truth all the time, always knowing, never doubting, never deceived, never discouraged, and always full of the joy of the Lord!  Perhaps we can...  

The psalmist says, "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." --Psalm 27:4

I love that the psalmist here is clear that we are able to behold the beauty of the Lord daily, to dwell with Him every day, not just sometimes, but "all the days of my life!" His love for us is permanent, and He is always available, even when our love for Him is so fickle.  How great is our God?  When I find that I have been desiring anything other than the Lord (even if that something is answers or His will for my life), I need to simply repent, go boldly to His throne of grace, behold His beauty, and remember the "One thing" I should desire.

Jesus also affirms all this, in addressing Martha's accusations against her sister, "...One thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." --Luke 10:42

Isn't it amazing to think of how true it is that Mary's choice could never be taken away from her?  No matter what is happening in our lives, no matter how lost we feel, no matter how overwhelmed our hearts may get, there is nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ!  When we don't know the answers, when we don't feel the love, when we are broken down and empty, we need to recognize that there is nothing to keep us--ever--from coming to Jesus and sitting at His feet!  Even better, Hebrews 4:15 reminds us that He even understands all of what we go through.  What a wonderful High Priest we have: One that was willing to set aside all He had to come here and get dirty, be despised, and pay the ultimate price for my sins...and all for what?  One thing: that I (and you!) may spend eternity (starting today) with Him.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. --Romans 8:38-39

Update: Our house and our rental house have been on the market for a couple of months now, but nothing seems to be happening.  Please pray for us during this time of waiting...that we would simply seek to sit at the feet of Jesus, the one thing that's needed.  Thank you all for your prayers.