Knee Jerk Devotional: October 21, 2020
Luke 10:17-24
Photo by Austin Chan on Unsplash
Passage:
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”
Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
Where do you find your significance?
We so often find our significance in what we do. You would think that we are human doings as opposed to human beings.
How do you finish this phrase, I am…?
We get wrapped up in what we do.
What makes you significant?
Most of us find our significance in the things we accomplish. Those things that we accomplish might be really good things. We can look at changed lives or great inventions. Some of us can look at wealth generation or policies that we have changed. We can celebrate keeping people and property safe. Maybe we have saved lives as a doctor or nurse.
But does that make you significant?
Notice, I’m not talking about identity. Too often we confuse identity with significance or purpose. I think that maybe we have gone too far with some “identity in Christ” language when we really mean union with Christ. Perhaps that is a difference without a distinction but I think it might be more than that.
When we are united with Christ we must look beyond the actions we take to what’s even more important. The 72 saw amazing things happen as a result of their work in ministry. They experienced great spiritual victory. If you ask any pastor they would give their right arm to experience what the 72 did.
“I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”
Nobody ever said that about my ministry. =)
How cool would that be?
But the significance of the 72, Jesus says, is not rooted in their victory over Satan or in their ministry successes. Jesus says, your significance is rooted by having your name written in heaven.
Jesus says, celebrate in the reality that you are united with me. Celebrate that you will be with Jesus in his father’s house for eternity. The most significant thing about the follower of Jesus is that they are united with him.
We have to ask ourselves, “Where do I find my significance?”