Luke 10 shows the ins and outs…ups and downs of ministry.
Jesus sends out the 72 to prepare all the places he would visit. Yes, Jesus planned and strategized and prayed.
He told them not a lot of people will go.
He told them to serve others.
He told them to accept other people serving them.
He told them people wouldn’t accept them.
They were to have one message, “The Kingdom of God is near you.”
Then the parable of the Samaritan is told. Loving the one you’re supposed to hate is loving your neighbor.
Then we see the story of Mary and Martha where Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and Martha served too much.
Why would Jesus tell his disciples to not celebrate ministry wins, but only that our name is written in heaven?
Serving can produce crowds…and wear you out. You can do everything right and end up with everyone hating you. Sometimes you pick up the person battered and bruised. Sometimes you will be at the feet of Jesus and let the meal go uncooked.
There is no one right answer. So to celebrate your salvation and righteousness is the only safe bet.
You will be tugged and pulled in many directions. You will get some right. Probably you’ll get many more wrong…and never even know it.
God doesn’t need you to be perfect. Serve. Sit at his feet. Celebrate the reality you get the chance to have a relationship with your Daddy King.