Location and TimesLuke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
The disciples were rejoicing because of their success in the ministry. God had allowed them to have power over the Devil and demons. They were excited to see God’s power exhibited in their lives.
Jesus scolds them! They should not be so excited about what they can do but what He has done! They should not be excited that He has blessed them with spiritual power but rather that their names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
I am afraid that this story sums up the vast majority of us. We see the blessings of God in physical terms. He is blessing my business. He is blessing my ministry. I have good health and I have good things. I rejoice in how good God is to me!
But it seems from this verse that Jesus would say-stop rejoicing in the wrong things. You should rejoice that you are saved, that your names are written in heaven. I hate to say it but I think that to the majority of us that is basically a side benefit of being saved. We are glad that we are going to heaven but that is not the important thing now.
We need God to do things for us now. We need to see His power on lives in terms of money, popularity, success. When these things are lacking then God is not blessing and we are not rejoicing.
Amazingly American Christians have come to count God’s blessings in dollars and cents. We are more excited about our health than we are our salvation. We rejoice in the wrong things.
I am very guilty! I rejoice when things are going right and complain when they are not! I always want more blessings! God forgive us for having wrong priorities.
God forgive us for not valuing the things of true value.