WHAT’S THE ONE THING?

 Jesus asks “Can I use you and your life….”?

When this question is asked, it’s not intended to be casual. Jesus is asking and inviting us into something deep and paramount for our relationship with Him.

This relationship should involve daily conversations with our Creator. God wants to speak to us and in return, He wants us to speak with Him. This is what fellowship is all about.

“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our LORD.” — 1 Corinthians 1:9 

In Matthew, chapter 19, verses 16 through 26, we read about the young rich ruler. In that first verse, the young ruler asks Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Even though he called Jesus ‘good’, he did not yet realize that he was standing in front of and speaking with God Himself , not only a good teacher, but the source of all life!

The rich young ruler had ‘done everything right’ in his life. He followed all the commandments, but he still asked Jesus about what else he could do to get to Heaven.

This story in Matthew can, and should, inspire us to ask a question of our own:

“God, what are You asking me to do?” 

The answer to this question is not us actually working to earn our way into Heaven, as the young ruler thought. Even though the young man had the wrong idea about achieving eternal life, Scripture tells us, “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” (see Mark 10:21)

Jesus loves each and everyone of us, no matter how we feel about Him, or what we have or haven’t done. That will never change.

The choice we face is the same one the rich young ruler did. Jesus will love us no matter what we choose. But we still have to choose. Will we walk away sad like he did, (see Matthew 19:22) or will we lay down that one thing and follow?

We can lay down our own thoughts about how our life should look like. We can lay down our own agendas to make room for HIM! 

LAYING IT DOWN AND SURRENDERING IT ALL TO JESUS means submitting to Him, trusting Him, and obeying Him.

There is a cost to following Jesus. He told us to count it. But the reward is so much greater than anything we give up: we gain a relationship with the Creator of the universe. We get to walk in step with Him. When you’re truly walking with Jesus, there will come a point when nothing else matters but His presence.

God wants to use your life, not for show, but for His glory. He wants to be your Friend, your Father, your King. And through this relationship, His thoughts will become your thoughts, His desires your desires.

“Abide in me, and I in you.” — John 15:4

“Abide” means to remain or stay connected. It signifies a relationship of continued union and dependence.

So, here is the million dollar question: “What is your one thing?”

We all have the one thing (or more) that we can surrender to God, and we all must make that decision. Do you know and will you listen when God asks you to surrender it? Let us not be like the young rich ruler and walk away when it is revealed to us what that one thing is. 

Here’s the truth:

We can do all the ‘right’ things and still miss it. The rich young ruler kept all the commandments. He was religious, moral, respectful. But that’s not what saves us.

 “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags…” —Isaiah 64:6 

You can’t earn heaven. You can’t impress God with performance. Salvation is a gift.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.”

—Ephesians 2:8–9 

*Jesus Isn't After Perfection. He's After You.

*Following Jesus Comes With a Cost, but It’s worth It.

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’”

—Matthew 16:24 

*The rich young ruler counted the cost and couldn’t let go.

*But what if the cost is actually your freedom?

*What if surrendering “that one thing” is the doorway to joy?

So, what’s the one thing? Ask Him. He’s listening!!

Author: Priscilla Campbell 

Editor: Christine Platt