Rejoicing In What God Has Done

In the tenth chapter of Luke, Jesus sends out a mission team of seventy-two of His followers who then returned to Him with great joy in what they had done. They said, "Lord, even demons are subject to us in your name!" Luke 10:17. Their joy was overflowing from what they had done in the name of Jesus.

Jesus taught them an important lesson on their return; one we must also learn. He said, "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." Luke 10:18-20.

The lesson we must believe and learn is this: make sure the source of your joy, gratitude, and praise is in what God has done for you because what He will do through you will change. When you stay focused upon knowing Christ, you will know more and more of the depth and security of His love for and with you. This is an eternal source of joy, gratitude, and praise. If you focus upon the stewardship of what God has given to you to do, your joy, gratitude, and praise will dry up once that stewardship ends. Not recommended; highly not recommended!

God gives you all you need to do what He sends you out to do for Him. This is called stewardship. But the assignments are not eternal, they are temporary and can change, and do. If your joy, gratitude, and praise flows from what you do in His name and power, what are you going to do if you can't do that particular task anymore? If your joy, gratitude, and praise flows from what you do for God rather from who you are in Christ, what will happen to your joy when you are no longer able to do what you are now doing for God? It will dry up.

But the fountain of joy, gratitude, and praise that flows from knowing Jesus Christ and the security of His great love for you, with you, and through you will take on many different expressions of love and power for others that will continue throughout all eternity! Hallelujah!!!

And so, make sure you believe and learn this important lesson: Rejoice (joy, gratitude, and praise) in what God has done through His Son, Jesus Christ in reaching you, saving you, and revealing Himself to you, with you, through you, before Himself and the watching and needy world around you; for His glory and your increasing joy. AMEN and Hallelujah!