"Rejoice"

”Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20

For most Christians including pastors, there is a sense of joy when the Lord uses us. We rejoice to see sinners saved and saints sanctified through our discipleship efforts. We long to see broken relationships restored through our biblical counseling and backslidden saints reconciled by our prayers. It's not us doing it but God doing it through us (Gal.2:20). I don't know any true converted Christian who does not want to be used by God in some way.

However, Jesus reminds his disciples they should not rejoice in how God worked through them, rather they should ”rejoice their names were written in heaven.” This statement brings things into perspective. It reminds us that our primary concern should not be rejoicing in what we’ve done for God, but what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. We should rejoice in the fact that our names are written in the ”Lamb’s Book of Life” and that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

I believe if Christians would meditate on what God has done for us in Christ, there would be more joy in the believer’s life. It's when we focus on ourselves or what we are doing that there seems to be a loss of joy. Namely, because we are imperfect and fail at times. GOD is perfect and never fails. So, take time today to meditate and think about the gospel and what God has done has done for you in Christ Jesus. And know if you are His than YOUR name is written in heaven.

Have a blessed week! SDG.

By His Grace and For His Glory,
Pastor Chad Beck