What To Rejoice

Jesus told his disciples not to rejoice over ministry success…

The disciples came back from their mission trip on a high. “Even demons obeyed us when we use your name!”

Jesus affirmed their success. But he pointed them to the one thing they should rejoice in…

That their name is written in Heaven.

Jesus told them flat out, “Don’t rejoice over ministry success.”

Wait…what? Demons took a hike. But don’t celebrate?

Jesus know something you don’t. You, and I, will get addicted to success. Like a drug, we have to get more and more. If success is what we rejoice over, then success is what we continue to crave.

Success, even ministry success, becomes a god. We think our Life comes from the next big thing we, um, God, yeah, God does.

But if being in heaven is what we rejoice over, being in heaven is what we crave. And the things of heaven are what satisfies us. Not anything this created order has to offer.

Don’t let ministry success be your primary rejoicing. Rejoice because you are a citizen of heaven.