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Jn 16:24
"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

“but only one thing is necessary”
Jesus was speaking of Himself, worshipping Him, partaking in the “bread of life.” He (the Word) is our sustenance. While the world focuses on the physical, we believers are to focus on spiritual/heavenly food/shelter.

Connecting The Dots
Jesus is saying that our obedience to His Word, abiding in His love and living out His commands (such as the Great Commission), can give us His joy, which makes our souls "full". Jn 4:34-35,15:10-11

The world has a myriad of counterfeits, but there's only one true joy, and it's from following our Lord and His commands!
Jn 15:11

Slippery Slope
As a person’s focus goes, so goes there devotion; and, typically, as a person’s devotion goes, so goes their idolatry. It all begins with distraction, hyper-focus on the details of life, and a supplanting of our first love.

But why desire a blessing if it's not from above? If it's not from above, it's not really a blessing. It's not "good". Jas 1:17

Two Spheres
The Apostle John saw only two spheres:  believers and unbelievers. He wrote upon this basic premise because many were supposing gray, morphed religion was sufficient for salvation. It isn’t.

The American Plague
Americans are plagued with idolatry (cp 1Jn 5:21). We are often the world’s primary source of it. (see blog titled, America’s Greatest Export, 3/9/2016)

Situational Awareness
Most people are so engrained in idolatry that they hardly even recognize their condition. (cp 1Jn 5:21)

The human flesh THRIVES on idolatry! As the Word is food for the new creature, so idolatry  is for the old self (creature credit is currency).

Jn 6:35
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” (cp “but only one thing is necessary” - Lk 10:42)

Remember, God’s not trying to kill us, just the cancerous part of us…the dead part… He’s surgically separating us from the vestiges of sin…from the old self and the life it built for itself over the years.

2Ti 2:4
No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.

Undistracted devotion to the Lord is impossible without surrender to His will.

It's the flesh that tempts us to evaluate God's faithfulness by what we see or gain as blessings. That's another temptation from the devil himself.

All we really need to know (only one thing is necessary) is that we've been graciously granted eternal life through Christ!!

Lk 17:10
“So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’”

Pastor Collins
While He’s ever-demanding, given His own integrity to the Word…He’s also ever-patient with us.

We mustn’t be “too hard” on ourselves.

What God Wants
We have to learn to put the onus of sanctification on the Lord. That is what HE wants!!!! If God wants something done, He presumes it is His work to do!

Php 1:6
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

The heart is God’s field in sanctification. He changes it, fundamentally, at salvation…and then He continues to nurture it, encourage it, even place in it a sense of motivation.

Since sanctification is a work of God, we mustn’t get too worked up about not “being” sanctified to the degree our new hearts desire just yet.

Php 1:6
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

The Faith Of A Child Puts The Onus On His Father
"God promises to make me holy! God promises to make me holy! I'm not worried... He's my God and Father and I KNOW He can do it!"