Luke 10:17-20 – Rejoicing for the right reason

Just imagine 70 elated people, returning with joy to share stories upon stories of their exploits. They had just experienced the effect of the ministry. Who won't rejoice after being instrumental in the deliverance of so many? So there was much exultation. Excitedly they recounted how demons were subjugated when Christ's name was declared. As Charles Wesley rightly declared:

Jesus! The name high over all,

In hell or earth or sky;

Angels and men before it fall,

And demons flee and fly.

We can understand the joy of the seventy. Having had such wonderful successes, it surely would be hard to contain the joy.  In Luke 9:18, Jesus celebrated their ministry too. He saw Satan's power over lives shattered and eradicated through their ministries. Verse 19 is a reminder for us too. Just as the 70 had experienced, He has also granted us the authority and power to experience victory over the works of demonic forces. His assurance is still as good today. He promises us His divine protection. Nothing can harm us while we are serving Him.

However, we see in verse 20 Jesus moderating their joy. In much the same way, He is telling us too. There's nothing wrong in being joyful over our successes in life and ministry. But they are only the secondary reasons. The real reason for our joy should be in the fact that our names are written in heaven. It's great to know that in Him we have authority and power over the forces of evil. And we must be grateful for the authority and gifts granted us to do His work. But the fact that we are His must never be let out of our sight.

Where do we find the greatest joy in life?  When we are successful in our ministry? When we find victory in what we are doing? We need to know that it's God that had granted us our victories. We ought to be grateful for them. But in our rejoicing, never forget this: our names are written in heaven. He wrote them with His blood. They are indelible. It will not be removed. Forever!