Good morning. It is Saturday, and it is springtime! What a glorious day!
In the middle of Luke’s gospel, we read about Jesus preparing His followers for the work that was coming, for that time when He would be restored into heaven and they would be serving Him through the abiding power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus sends out 72 of His devoted followers with clear instructions. He tells them that they will go out in power, but they fail to realize just what this truly means.
When they return to Jesus, they report to Him, amazed at what they have seen and done: The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” Luke 10:17 It was an amazing thing that they had never before imagined. With great joy they realized that they could, in Jesus’ name, have power to command the forces of evil. In Jesus’ name they would be obeyed!
When Jesus responds, I have to imagine that a smile began to form on His face. These devoted followers are amazed at the power involved in the name of Jesus. And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” Luke 10:18
That does put things in perspective. Jesus tells them that as terrifying as their enemy may seem to be, he is powerless against God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Jesus goes on to tell them that by His command nothing that the enemy sends against them will defeat them. Not snakes, scorpions, or any terror that the enemy could try. In the name of Jesus there is security, there is power, and there is joy!
What Jesus tells them next is quite amazing as well. He tells them that as awesome as that authority over evil may seem to them, it is nothing compared to the promise of God that is theirs. Jesus told them: ”Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
This is the truth that is central to our joy each and every day. Our names are written in heaven and we are a part of eternity with our Father God, our Savior Jesus, our helpmate and friend the Holy Spirit.
We know that we are commanded to be joyful as we read in Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, rejoice!” But in this verse Jesus gives us the true and eternal reason for joy: that we are His, and we will be His forever!
Joy is our portion when we are in His fellowship. Joy is a companion to all of our confidence and creativity in Christ. Our joy is His joy, and that joy is in no way small or controlled. It is a joy that is powerful in the way it carries us through each day. Ours is a robust joy, sustained in no small part by an element of hilarity. For nothing less than our joy in Jesus can sustain us in the kingdom righteousness that is our quest each day. Joy is a truth, it is a power, it is a satisfaction, it is a treasure, it is a matter of God in you!
What are some ways that we might bring a greater sense of celebration into our lives in Christ? Are there ways that we could interact that would insure greater joy? Are there things that we could say, as well as things that we should not say, that will insure greater joy?
All of that may be true, but I will bask in the certainty that is ours from Jesus’ own lips: “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
The challenges of any day might rob us momentarily of our happiness, but nothing in all of creation can rob us of the joy that is ours in knowing our place in eternity!
Praise God and be joyful!
Vern