Choose JoySample

DAY 18 – RETURN WITH JOY

Reflection: The Christian life is one of delegated authority and designated joy, as we see when Jesus appointed ‘72 others’ to be part of his ministry, going into the towns he was planning to visit (vs 1).

They were commanded to ‘heal the sick’ and tell everyone ‘the kingdom of God has come near to you’ (Luke 10:9 NIV). But he also warned them they would be like lambs among wolves and that in some places, they would not be welcome.

Luke records that these disciples completed their mission and returned to Jesus with joy. Not only had they seen healings and the kingdom proclaimed, but demonic spirits obeyed their directions given in the name of Jesus.

We have inherited this same mission and the same promises. We can certainly find joy in the way God changes lives as we serve in Jesus’ name. But Jesus always has his heart set on an even higher joy, a greater miracle. That is the wonder of salvation, of eternal life, that God planned for us before the beginning of the world, accomplished through the death and resurrection of his Son.

We’ll have days to return in joy, we’ll have days to return in sorrow. But in both days, we can rejoice that our eternity is secure through the blood of Jesus.

Choose joy: Pray for someone who is sick. Tell someone about the kingdom of God. Rejoice that all of this is from Jesus, and nothing can separate us from him.