Luke 10: 17-20
The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Sometimes, we rejoice over the wrong things :-). Hear me out. This familiar text sticks out like a sore thumb to me. Can you imagine, going out in the fields to different towns; healing the sick and laying hands on strangers full time throughout the day and the Lord doing great signs and wonders through you? Well, He certainly desires to do the same today and I know the times that the Lord has used me in great ways, I got excited! This I believe is normal, we can easily get excited about being used by God, I mean He's AMAZING! But this jumped out to me today because despite of all the miraculous and great and mighty things that were happening through Jesus' disciples, He told them to rejoice that their name is written in the Lambs book of Life!
Hallelujah! Sometimes, we can get caught up in the "works" and forget to ALWAYS rejoice in the one who enables us to do the work! I mean, doesn't this excite you?! I mean picture it today us talking to Jesus: "Lord, Hallelujah little Johnny was healed instantly and we just prayed for him this morning." "Jesus"!!!, "Teresa gave her life to you after hearing the sermon preached on Sunday". "Lord, that mans foot was instantly restored right before our eyes as we worshiped you". Jesus replies, " That's great my son, my daughter, but even the more Rejoice that your name is written in Heaven".
Although the gifts of the Spirit are powerful and God gives gifts to whom He desires, but even more than this; we can always Rejoice in Him.
So, I encourage you my brother and sister in all things; REJOICE!
