February 21, 2021
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Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. – Luke 10:20
When the seventy disciples return to Jesus after being sent out by twos, they come rejoicing at what they had done, and were able to do in Jesus name, and for his ministry. They rejoice at the authority they had received, but Jesus reminds them, it’s not to rejoice that they were protected, but to rejoice that their names are written in heaven.
Some might speculate about the divine protection and why it is seeming evident in some cases and absent in others. Some have speculated that those who have befallen tragedy doing “God’s work” was because they lacked true faith. However, if we truly seek to understand Jesus response to the disciples, we find that it is not always faith’s place to protect. When we think of all the good in faith that was done by the apostles after Jesus resurrection, we may find miraculous occurrences of salvation from death’s door; yet, history tells us that still many of the apostles and follows of Jesus died a martyrs death.
I tend to believe Jesus words to rejoice not in protection, but rejoice that our names are in heaven is to say that it is more important that we focus on what we can do in sharing the gospel of love, the message of hope, and the life of Christ while we have breath to do so. We were reminded on Ash Wednesday (as we are every year) that we are mortal, and to dust we shall return. The greater rejoicing is in what leads us to know the assurance of heaven, having our names written, and knowing we are God’s children in Christ. Then, we can choose to use our breath to share in the message of gospel, to love God, and our neighbor as God’s own sealing our names in heaven, forever.
Grace & Peace,
Sam