Reason to Rejoice

Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Jesus teaches us a valuable lesson here. The disciples have just returned from a preaching tour. They are so excited because what they have been able to do with God’s help. Luke 10:17 says, "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name." They were rejoicing that even demons listened to them as they rebuked them in Jesus’ name.

Jesus basically said, "That is nothing. I saw Satan fall from heaven, and I have give you power over all the power of the enemy, but that is not the thing to rejoice in. The reason to rejoice is not what I have helped You to do but rather who you are in me."

The reason for their rejoicing was that their names were written down in heaven, they had eternal life, and they had a promise of heaven, not success in ministry. What about us? Why makes us happy? That we are saved? Or do we need visible results to be happy? Do we have to do something and have some experience to be happy or is our relationship with Jesus Christ enough?

It reminds me of Habakkuk 3:17-18 which says, "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation."

If God is blessing us with great power and great results, we can rejoice. If nothing visible is happening and no power seems evidence, we can rejoice, because we are still saved and the source of our joy and happiness is our relationship with Him.

As Francis of Assisi said, "To him who tastes God, all the sweetness of the world will be but bitterness."