Rejoice in Your Heavenly Destination

“²⁰Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” — Luke 10:20 (ESV)

Jesus is speaking to the seventy-two He had sent out to spread the gospel. As they returned they were excited for the work they had done, and rightly so as they had spread the gospel well in the name of the Lord. Jesus was excited for the work they did, and wanted them to be happy in it, but not for the reasons they were excited for, but for the destination they were headed to.

“¹⁷The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!’” — Luke 10:17 (ESV)

You see the seventy-two were excited for the fact that they had power over the demons and were looked upon as authority figures as they went in the name of Christ. And, they did have the authority that was given them by Christ as they were sent out. But that was not the focus of them being sent. It was not the authority that Jesus sent, it was them to bring the gospel to the people and reach them where Jesus was unable to physically be at all times.

I know that I am human and will deal with the human element at all times. One of those elements is the thirst for power and authority. Too often I find myself in the situation where I am surrounded by those that are so interested in their authority that they miss out on the real reason they are there, to serve and reach a destination. It is when that thirst is the only thing on the mind, that things go awry.

I am sent into this world to do the will of God and to spread the gospel where I am led. God gives me authority to do just that work and I must embrace that authority and use it when the “need” arises. I have to remember though, it is not about the authority, but the bringing of the gospel that is my task. I am to rejoice in the fact that my final destination is heaven and in getting there it is my duty to bring the gospel to all of those I come in contact. I rejoice in the destination, not in the power and authority I have been given to take the journey in reaching that destination.

What are you rejoicing in when you are given authority? Do you find yourself wheeling your authority at every turn and rejoicing in the idea that people take your authority and power seriously? What if you rejoiced instead in the destination of heaven that is at the end of your journey and used your authority in the name of Christ to spread the gospel?