In Bible time, the kids and I are working our way through the gospel of Luke story by story. This morning we read the passage in chapter 10 when Jesus chose 72 disciples and sent them out by pairs to the surrounding towns and villages.
How long these disciple pairs were out and about, we don’t know but when they returned, it seems everyone was excited. “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” I imagine I would be overjoyed as well with the fact that when I prayed, people were healed; demons fled at the name of Jesus, and nothing could harm me. I’d feel flush with success and power just like those disciples did.
However…
Jesus 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.”
We always answer 3 questions during Bible time:
‘What did you learn about God through this passage?’
‘What do we learn about humanity through this passage?’ And lastly:
‘What am I going to change based on this information?’
One of the kids stated a most profound truth in answering these questions. She said: “Humans in general, we praise God for what we can do, not for who we are.”
Bam. What a truth bomb.
How like those disciples we usually are. Happy and flying high when things go well for us. Joyous in our accomplishments. We forget the most important thing: whose I am.
Our ‘what I can do’ transcends the ‘who I am’.
Jesus says to rejoice in who we are in Him, not worry so much about what we can accomplish through his name. It’s not about us, after all. It’s about Him and who we are in Christ Jesus.
I am complete. Col. 2:10
I am free from the law of sin and death. Eph. 2:5
I am holy and without blame before Him in love. Eph. 1:4, 1 Peter 1:16
I have the mind of Christ. 1 Cor. 2:16, Phil. 2:5
I have peace that passes understanding. Phil. 4:7
I have the Spirit of wisdom. Eph. 1:17-18
I am chosen by God. 1 Peter 2:9
I am more than a conqueror. Romans 8:37
I am loved. John 3:16
I am healed. Isaiah 53:5
I am seated in heavenly places. Eph. 2:6
And these are just a few truth statements of who we are in Jesus Christ. There are many more.
This is who we are folks! Let us rejoice in this reality far more than how God might use us to accomplish His purposes. It’s not about us and what we can do, after all. It’s about Him. And He is fanatical about His glory.
Rejoice in who you are, more than in what you can accomplish.
Rejoice that you are His.