Unwrapping Advent: Through Voices of Wisdom Dec 18
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Day 18
17 The seventy-two returned joyously, saying,
“Lord, even the demons submit themselves to us in your name.”
18 Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 19 Look, I have given you authority to crush snakes and scorpions underfoot.
I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy.
Nothing will harm you.
20 Nevertheless, don’t rejoice because the spirits submit to you.
Rejoice instead that your names are written in heaven.”
21 At that very moment, Jesus overflowed with joy from the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you’ve hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and shown them to babies.
Indeed, Father, this brings you happiness.
Luke 10:17-22, CEB
Joy in Victory and Salvation
Have you ever been in a situation where you flat out missed the point? We can be so focused on what we believe the situation is telling us that we can’t see the forest for the trees! Or we rejoice in one thing when something greater is going on.
In this scripture Jesus commissioned 72 people to go ahead of him, spread His good news message, and heal people in His name. But when they returned to Jesus to report what happened, they were looking inward at how great Christ made them. They even compared themselves to being greater and more powerful than Satan, as opposed to looking outward at Christ and rejoicing in the work He had done and was doing through them to the glory of God in heaven.
Yes, sometimes we do things on this earth that can be really great and extraordinary. Yet rather than patting ourselves on the back, we could look to God and rejoice in the good gifts He has given us to use for HIS glory, not for our own.
Reflect: Have you ever missed the point where you rejoiced in your victory rather than God’s in and through you? How can you view and celebrate your accomplishments and victories differently?
Pray: Father God, You have created and made me in Your image to do great things for You and Your kingdom. Help me to be humble about my abilities and joyful about the opportunity to use those abilities for You and for Your glory. In the name of Your Son Jesus, who went before us, Amen.
Mike Lish
Stephen Ministry Leader
Faithbuilders Small Group
Choir