The Lord said to his disciples, "He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name! " And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon 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. " In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will."
The real reason why I should rejoice should have nothing to do with any success I may achieve in this life, whether in the temporal or spiritual realm. Yes, victories are great and, yes, it does give satisfaction for me to achieve something whether it be somehow helping another person, thus living out the Gospel or something of a personal nature, expanding upon my talents in someway. Yes, it is okay to be happy about that. But, how much more important it is to rejoice about my name being written in heaven, like those of the Apostles.
To think that God would take notice of me, sinful though I am. To think that God would want my name written in heaven. How important it is to keep humble and realize that the Holy Spirit will not reveal Himself to the proud and arrogant man but to the one who is humble of heart~ humble like a child.
O Lord, how I desire to remain that humble so that I would see You. The proud and haughty man cannot see You, because they look to themselves. But I want to rejoice in You and see my name written in Your Kingdom. Help me to live like that today, I pray, Amen.
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