The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “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 10:17-20 (ESV)
Lord Jesus, thank you for commending our joy, and for giving us so many reasons to be a people of joy. You created a world for us to enjoy; and though it’s lost the perfections of Eden, creation still reveals your beauty, goodness, and majesty. And you’ve blessed us with so many creature comforts—things we either take for granted or assume we deserve. Thank you for our vocations and vacations, food and clothing, cars and feet, sleep and sweets… and the list goes on and on.
And like the seventy-two disciples in this passage, you give us the joy of being used in your service—no small thing, indeed. Thank you for the privilege of sharing the gospel and serving in your church, working for the common good and laboring in your kingdom. Thank you for the honor of loving our neighbors and working for justice, caring for the poor and bringing freedom to the bound.
BUT, Jesus, we are zealous to obey the main command in this text. Above all reasons for heart-palpitating felicity and soul-invigorating joy, thank you for writing our names in heaven—for securing our place in your heart and eternity. They are written with the indelible ink of God’s grace; and no eraser can remove our names from the only book that really matters.
May the joy of our irrevocable, free, and über-glorious salvation shut down our whine-fest and pity-parties, our lust for something more or our craving to be somewhere else. May the delight of being yours transform our suffering and heal our heartaches, intensify our hope and calm our fears. So very Amen we pray, in your generous and grace-full name.
