What We Learned To Avoid

What if I told you that our moments of joy could impact us for eternity? Wouldn’t it be fabulous if our “delights” were more valuable than fickle feelings? How could we use them so that they are invested in such a way that they reap a return greater than the experience of the moment?

Looking at the what we have learned thus far from Jesus sending out the disciples for ministry in Luke 10:1-20 helps us know what to avoid in our own lives. My previous 2 posts (first and second) taught about the temptations of rejoicing too much in the wrong things or not enough in the right things. We talked about how the disciples took joy in the demons submitting to the authority that Christ had given them. We learned how Christ warned them about this but the best part is that He didn’t just stop there with the lesson. He took it one step further as He modeled for them the right way to take joy in God’s opportunities/blessings.

In the next passage after the warning, Jesus graciously shows them HOW to take joy in such a way that it makes the most out of the moment.

What We See Jesus Model

I love how thorough the Word is for us. After Jesus warns of how taking joy in the wrong things or not enough in the right things connect to the fall of Satan from heaven, He turns right around and shows us how to wisely rejoice in Luke 10:21-24.

Oh, how I love that!! God knows how much easier it is for me to learn from examples, both good and bad.

In verse 17 the disciples “returned with joy” which is easily compared with verse 21 where Jesus was “full of joy through the Holy Spirit”. Right off the bat, we see a difference. This made me wonder why it was described in connection with the Holy Spirit?

Obviously, God is showing there is a way to take joy in His blessings that has His stamp of approval. In such a way, it is for our good as well as His glory.

What was the difference?

In this passage for today, we see Jesus delighting differently than the disciples had. They had rejoiced in what they were able to do in Jesus’ name. Compare that to how Christ rejoiced in verse 21. The first words out of His mouth when He was full of joy were, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have ……”.

Do you see the difference? The disciples delighted in what they had done whereas Jesus delighted in what God had done. It is subtle yet revealing of the focus of attention.

The Son of God, who was and is God, still brought the attention back to God the Father. Notice how both the disciples and Jesus acted under the power and authority of Someone else. Even though the abilities of each was credited to the One above them, it was done differently.

Joy was experienced by both through the process but only Jesus did it in such a way that it became more than a momentary feeling. He channeled it into something else.

What was revealed?

I find 3 observations from this about rejoicing.

1. Rejoicing reveals the passions and priorities of our heart.
2. Rejoicing in the wrong things draws us away from God.
3. Rejoicing in the right things draws us closer to God.

Jesus gave the lesson about what happened to Satan so that the disciples wouldn’t get pulled away from God as they experienced His mighty use of them. We learn how Christ avoided this temptation by keeping the center of His focus on God and His plans for His kingdom, not the thrills of being used for the kingdom.

The temptation is to idolize the thrill of being used by God over the thrill of knowing God.

The temptation is to idolize the thrill of being used by God over the thrill of knowing God. Share on X

By Jesus choosing to use His moment of joy over what God was doing as an opportunity to praise the Father, it channeled the momentary feelings of joy into so much more- God’s glory!

Christ made the most out of His moment of joy by using it as an investment of praise which brings about eternal rewards.

Whenever God is glorified, that is the embodiment  of personal fulfillment AND spiritual intimacy.

Whenever God is glorified, that is the embodiment of personal fulfillment AND spiritual intimacy. Share on X

Personal Application

After having learned this lesson, when my oldest texted me this morning about how much he loves his new job and the many benefits of it, I responded with how blessed I was to hear that and then I added: “God has been so good to you”.

I tied the moment of joy that I felt as his mom back to the graciousness of his Heavenly Father. In other words, I connected the dots. I channeled the feeling of joy into praise which in turn, glorified God. One moment transformed into eternal significance for God’s name!

Romans 11:36 ESV describes this sequence of events so to speak.

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

What this teaches me is that I really have no skin in the game. This is ALL GOD, from beginning to end. Whatever I am or can do is from God, through God’s grace, and for God’s glory alone.

 

3 Reminders for Making the Most of Our Joy

Going by Christ’ example, we learn 3 keys for making the most of each opportunity.

• humility
• praise
• gratitude

As we think about ourselves less and keep God at the center of our rejoicing, we are able to transform OUR joy into HIS glory. We bring the moment back to how it reflects the goodness of God. Jesus went on in that passage for today to reflect on how God’s kingdom was unfolding and the brilliance of God’s plan. He told the disciples how fortunate they were to be experiencing what God was allowing for them because so many prophets and kings had longed for it themselves but were denied.

By thinking of ourselves less, looking for the praise of God to be acknowledged, and keeping gratitude central for our blessing at hand, WE can make the most out of OUR  joy.