What kind of "work of God" in your life would bring you joy these days? Would you feel gladness if He answered a prayer you've been praying or used you to answer somebody else's prayer? Would you get excited if He opened your eyes to some new insight from the scripture or gave you a deep sense of peace, despite how crazy the world is these days? Would you be filled with gratitude if provided for you, or strengthened you, or gave you a sense of purpose that allowed you to glorify Him by serving others?

 

Well naturally, those would all be excellent reasons for joy! But in today's word from Luke 10, we're offered a bit of perspective that can help us to maintain joy, even when we don't get those things.

 

As we said in yesterday's devotional, the Lord had sent out a group of his followers (and not just the Twelve, but a large group of unnamed disciples). And he told them to preach, and heal, and drive out demons. And when they came back, they were beyond excited, because of all the ways that God had been at work in their lives. 

 

And Jesus, of course, shared in that excitement. "However," he said to them, "don't rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (10:20)

 

You see, we can and should rejoice when God answers prayer and does His work through us. But maybe our best and greatest joy is meant to come from the simple assurance that we belong to Him.

 

So, may you have that joy today. And may the grace that brought your heart to Jesus flow through you to bring that joy to others. Amen.