SINGLE-MINDEDNESS
Most of us do not grasp the fact that the laws of life apply to Christianity. Gravity affects a Christian just like anybody else. Two plus two is four whether we are good or bad. The single mindedness that secures gold in the Olympics is equally a single-mindedness that will develop a Christian. There are so many “how to” books and tapes. But I have found that many people can do a thing but they have no idea how they do it. That is why some great athletes can’t coach and many great coaches were failures as athletes. Just because a man can do it is no sign he knows how or why he did it. Most “how to” books fail to mention why they were successful. They overlook single-mindedness. What worked for them won’t for you if you do not pay the price they paid. The secret of success is not in the method. It is in the single-mindedness. Anything will work if we will work. Any diet will work if you don’t eat. It is not in the diet; it is not in the method. It is in the discipline, in the single-mindedness. If you don’t work, nothing will work. If you don’t have your total mind into it, it is not going to succeed. That is why any man can have a Ph.D. degree, any man can become a millionaire, any man can do anything he wants to do. The key question is this; does he want to badly enough?
James says if you need wisdom; ask of God (James 1:5-8). God gives liberally, but he says, a double-minded man won’t receive any wisdom. He repeated that truth in James 4:8. He says a double mind springs from a double heart. You are pulled by this urge today and by another tomorrow. We are literally being pulled apart. It isn’t any wonder we are miserable. Romans 14:23 says, “But he that doubteth is condemned . . . and whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Paul is referring to a man who violates his conscience. He is a man who tries to straddle the fence. We often try to butter both sides of the bread. We are trying to have the best of both worlds. It won’t work. One can’t lose weight and eat all he wants. One can’t succeed when he doesn’t try. One can’t develop muscles by exercising once a year.
Jesus was single-minded. Remember at the age of twelve He said, “Knew ye not that I must be in my Father’s house?” What was on Jesus’ mind? The will of God. Jesus said in Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” The word for pure means single-hearted, single-eyed, without any foreign mixture. Why was the apostle Paul such a wonderful, outstanding Christian? In Philippians 3 he said, “This one thing I do.” A person cannot do two things at once. Acts 2:46 says the brethren ate their food with gladness and singleness of heart. The early church was of one mind. In Psalms 57:7 David said, “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed. Whatever you fixed your mind will surely be, it is like Jesus nailed to the Cross of Calvary, and no power can override His authority or deny its existence. Many people are listening to the drum beat of too many bands. Jesus said you are either interested in heaven or earth, God or mammon, right or wrong. One can’t have both. We have two choices: We can deny ourselves or we can deny Christ. It is just that simple. Are you single-minded? Put your hand to the plow and don’t look back.
Word Affirmation: “ For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed." - Isaiah 50:7 (Don't just say it, mean it!)
“ Whatever you fixed your mind will surely be. "
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