Date: 01-10-2020

Title: The Source of Rejoicing

(S) cripture:
    Luke 10:17-20 (NASB77)
 And the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” ¹⁸  And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. ¹⁹  “Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you. ²⁰  “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”

(O) bservation:
    Jesus has sent the seventy out two by two ahead of Him into the places He would travel. When they returned they were excited that the demons were subject to them in Jesus’ name. Jesus responds by telling them that he saw what was happening and yes He had given them authority over the enemy but that should not be the source of their rejoicing. Rather they should rejoice that their names are recorded in heaven. For some Christians today the response is the same. What gets them charged up is the thought that they somehow now have power over demons. Their faith seems to be wrapped up in this idea of power over things rather than in their relationship with Jesus and that their name is written in heaven. Sometimes I wonder if these folks would be following Jesus if that power was not part of following Jesus.

(A) pplication:
    I am often attracted to power, the control over something. My spiritual life cannot be fueled by power over anything but rather by the fact that I am a child of God and my name is written in heaven. If that is not enough to cause rejoicing in my life then I have missed something. I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 11:3 (NASB77) that says, “But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” Today I do not want to be distracted by anything from my devotion to Jesus. I will rejoice in my simple devotion to Jesus.

(P) rayer:
    Father, make me aware when I am more excited about power than I am about knowing you and do what you must to bring me back to what is important and to rejoicing in You. Amen