What's my one thing?

Ron's Message: Simplicity (1/4/09); Psalm 27, Matthew 5:8 & Hebrews 12:1-3

This past weekend Ron spoke about simplicity. How having a pure heart is a heart that is given completely to God.

"One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayts of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple."-Psalm 27:4

One of my favorite worship songs is 'Better is One Day'
Better is one day in your courts
Better is one day in your house
Better is one day in your courts
Than thousands elsewhere

I forget that. I get caught up in the world. The worlds' desires. One single day in the presence of God is better than anything else we can imagine. It's crazy to even question that. The creator of the universe, made all of the things we fill our life with. He created all the people who interest us. And we are made in His image. So... how could He be anything but 'better'?

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."- Hebrews 12:1-3

How could there be anything but better.

We can't live holding onto all the things that we feel ashamed about. Forgiveness is offered...why wouldn't we accept it? It's such fickle thing. Is it pride? That we want to feel ashamed about our sins, as sort of a punishment to ourselves. We don't need to, that's what Jesus did. He saved us from our sins. Living with that shame is not what we are called to do. That's not the race we are to run. Run to Jesus.

Living in simplicity is what we are called to do. Simplicity is a 'wholehearted love for God.'

Ron spoke about how we have all of these 'priorities'

And we do..

Everything we do is based off of what is most important to us. That's a harsh reality. Do I choose to sleep in an extra 30 minutes or do I get up and start my day reading God's word? Do I spend a couple hours watching a movie with my friends, or spend that couple of hours talking about our souls?

... I'm not saying a movie is a bad thing, or that sleeping in is a bad thing. But if those things trump Jesus... we need to check our hearts.

Are we desiring Christ as much as He desires us?

There were 3 definitions:
simple faith: God said it, I believe it, that settles it.
simple hope: God promised it. so even if it looks like He's not delivering, I'll wait on it.
simple love: God commands it; I obey.

I want to be identified as a devoted follower of Christ. I want that to be my one thing. Not my ability to quote the Office in any situation, or my crazy shoes, or that i am a 'nice girl'.

I want to be someone who strives after God with such aggressiveness that there is never a question of my intentions or motives. That I would give up every single thing I have for the glory of Christ.

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday."- Psalm 37: 5-6

God is good. All the time.

Simplicity.