That One Thing

We all have some things to work on, me included. Some of you are in church this weekend for the first time in a long time because you know you have some things to work on. Others here can think of so many things that you need to work on, that you’ve given up trying. There are just too many.But what is that ONE thing? What’s that one thing that is holding you back? What is that one thing, that if you got the victory, a lot of other things would change as well? It’s the thing that stands out to you with almost every sermon you hear. It’s the thing that isn’t talked about with those closest to you, but you think about it, and you know what it is. They probably do as well.It might be your critical, gossipy tongue. Or maybe it’s your willful and combative attitude. It might be anger, lust, or maybe a porn addiction. Is it a substance you are abusing or using illegally? Are you living with someone but unwilling to get married, so you are living in fornication? Or you claim to be a follower of Jesus but you’ve never obeyed him in that first step––getting baptized.I could continue with a lot of examples, but if you give it some thought, you’ll come up with it…you know what it is.So instead of acknowledging that you have a lot of things to work on, let’s get focused. What is that ONE thing that is getting in the way of everything else? What is that one thing that is holding you back? What is that one thing that God wants to deal with in you?This is what the author of Hebrews was talking about when he wrote, “Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially THE sin that so easily hinders our progress" (Hebrews 12:1).You’ve tried to just keep going and pretend it’s not there. You’ve tried to make up for it in other ways. But none of that is working. Because sin shuts down our growth until it is confessed and forsaken.It’s time. Identify that ONE thing…and do whatever is necessary to strip it off and get back to following Jesus.