Special Relationship

As children, we always wanted to be given something special.

The seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!’ He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’ At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’ Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.’ - Luke 10:17-24

The seventy disciples were sent out by Jesus to spread the good news that God has come to restore his children to life.

In the process, they cast out demons and healed the sick.  This excited them.  They couldn't wait to tell Jesus what they had been able to do.

But he didn't want them to be impressed by this. Instead, he told them to rejoice about something else, their standing with God.

So it is with us.  We should be like children, excited about all we see and hear, but with God as our focus, rather than ourselves.

We can do what we do because of God's grace and love.

So, whenever things go well, thank God.  Whenever we find ourselves celebrating a victory, it is God we should thank.

God's Spirit lives within us and guides us to do amazing things.  Obstacles disappear, not because we have planned well, but because He is helping us on our path.

It truly is a special relationship we have, thanks to Jesus, who came to call us home.

More to come...