I Saw Something This Morning...

More precisely, God revealed something to me. Experientially. In a way I could feel. Something simple. A simple thought in simple words that I have read dozens of times. But today – I see.

I struggle with performance issues as a believer in Christ. Questions and anxieties about what I should be doing; where God wants me to be working and serving in his Kingdom; about what and how often and to whom I should be talking about Jesus, sharing the Gospel.

I often feel as though I should be doing more. Doing it better. Doing it more often. I feel a lingering sense of not doing enough, often enough, or nearly well enough to actually please God.

I saw something today. Something simple. Something profound.

In Luke 10, Jesus gives specific instructions to 72 of his followers as he sends them out into the surrounding area. They were to heal the sick and preach the kingdom. Jesus gave them great authority to cast out demons, to preach boldly and with power, and to discern the level of receptivity any given town would exhibit in their message. Jesus also made it clear that they were to be the forerunners of his own visitations to those areas.

Imagine those disciples, pairing off and heading out, with the Lord’s own blessing and power resting on them. Finally! They were going to get to do something themselves, by themselves. They were going to get to do what they had seen their Master doing.

And they did it. They were successful in their mission. Luke says that “the seventy-two returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!’”

That’s what I want. That’s what I often pray for. “Lord, what do you want me to do?” With the sincerest of motives and a real desire to be about the business of my God and Savior, I’m eager to be doing something concrete, specific. Working. Isn’t that why God has left us here on this messed-up earth? We have jobs to do, for Him.

Jesus welcomed his excited disciples back and acknowledged their success with an even stronger statement. “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.”

 I can picture the men exchanging self-satisfied glances, standing a little taller, backbones stiffening, feeling ready to go back out there and take on the world. They were going to do something for their Lord.

That’s what I want. I want to do something. Something tangible, something that will make a difference. Something that will impact people around me for the sake of Christ. Something that will please God and make him think more highly of me. Something that will set me apart from the normal crowd.

Hmmmmm. Honest words – but they reveal a problem. A sin problem. Pride. Self-righteousness. Wanting the recognition and admiration of others, and of God Himself. Surely he will like me better if I actually do something that earns his praise. Surely his acceptance of me, his love for me, can be enhanced by things I may do that have good results and impact the lives of others.

So, Jesus looks around at this group of tired, dusty, but excited disciples who are interrupting each other, trying to tell their stories of the miraculous things that they were able to do as they went out and preached with such authority. And then Jesus smiles and gestures for them to be quiet, stand still, and hear his next words.

“Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

What? But I didn’t have anything to do with my name being written in the Book of Life! Don’t you want to know what I’ve done here on this earth? Don’t you want to recognize me, and reward me, for my service to you and my ability to reach others? Isn’t that what pleases you?”

Jesus goes on, rejoicing in the Holy Spirit as He continues speaking aloud. But this time, his audience is his heavenly Father. “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.”

God’s gracious will. Grace. Electing grace. Grace that chose me to be his child before time began. Electing grace that wrote my name down in the Book of Life and keeps it on record in the portals of heaven. Whatever I may do to serve him, to testify of him, to serve and minister to others in his name and in his power, is done because he chose me; because he loves me; because I am already accepted in the Beloved. There is nothing I can do to make Him love me more.

Have I known that, intellectually? Have I taught many times that God is far more interested in us “being” than in our “doing?” Yes, I have. Many times.

But today. This morning. God granted me an experience of his heart for me. Not based on what I may do for him; but based entirely on what he has already done for me.

My name is written down in Heaven. And I rejoice.

I hope you do, too.