Luke 10:17–24

Be Still: ‘As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly, to re-centre my scattered senses upon the presence of God.’ (Lectio 365 opening prayer)

Read: Luke 10:17–24

However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’ (v.20)

Encounter: I remember seeing a sitcom where the (anti)hero was absolutely thrilled to win a Gold membership to an exclusive club. Delighted, he told all his friends, signed into the membership register, and enjoyed all the extra privileges that gold status brought him. Until one day… he spotted someone going through a door marked ‘Platinum Members Only’. Devastating! There was a still greater prize - but despite all his frenzied efforts it remained unattainable and for him, all the luxuries of his Gold membership suddenly became so much dust and ashes.

You and I have something far more valuable than Platinum membership! Thanks to Jesus, we rejoice because the register where our names are written is securely located in heaven, and there is no higher echelon of membership. The Message version of verse 24 says: 

‘There are plenty of prophets and kings who would have given their right arm to see what you are seeing but never got so much as a glimpse, to hear what you are hearing but never got so much as a whisper.’ 

But of course, we are not members of a social club, however exclusive. We belong to a church, a family, an army, a gang of workers in the harvest fields (Luke 10:2). The membership privileges are many but so are the responsibilities. 

Apply: ‘The seventy-two returned with joy’. Why? because they had worked together to prepare the way for Jesus. No doubt the roads had been hot and dusty, maybe some villages had turned them away, and surely they were weary from the journeys – but the burdens were shared ones, and most importantly they had seen the power of Jesus at first hand. They had set out in faith, trusting that he who had commissioned them would work through them – and returned with joy! 

Devote: Lord, thank you that I have seen things and heard things that kings and prophets longed for, and that through my trust in your atoning sacrifice my name is written in heaven. Today please show me some way, however small, of working in your harvest fields, so that this day will end with joy.