The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” (Luke 10:17, NIV)
In these days before tomorrow’s U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, we have considered our purpose in being thankful both for the exposure of our sin and the cleansing of it. Our lives in Jesus are made complete by the joining of these two acts, and our sanctification (growth in Christ) is done through this constant weeding out of sin and replacing it with a shining holiness.
But none of this is done for our own sake alone. If your spouse were to purchase a birthday gift for you of a foursome at a favorite golf course, you would confound her by applying this gift for four rounds played one at a time by yourself. The idea is for you to enjoy sharing the gift with your friends!
In the same way, God never intended our salvation to be lived out in isolation. He wants us to be the carriers of his words and his works to those who need still need to hear them and receive life in Christ.
In the gospels, we find two different times when Jesus specifically sent out his disciples to heal the sick and carry the good news of God’s kingdom. It was an amazing commission for men so green. The Holy Spirit had not yet been sent to govern their ministry and later occurrences in the gospels demonstrate how little they really understood about this Master they were serving. Yet they went at his direction.
What they discovered was amazing! As Jesus’ tagged ambassadors, they were able to demonstrate the power of God just as he had been doing. People were healed. And many listened to the message they brought. The kingdom of God was among them, and they were the ones tasked with delivering it. What a job! No wonder that when they returned, they returned with joy at what was being done through them in Jesus’ name.
But these accounts are not for the pages of Scripture’s history alone. We too have been called by Christ to go as liaisons of his love, messengers of his mercy, givers of his grace.
This is an opportunity we should be thankful for. Many will spend tomorrow’s holiday in the presence of those who need what Jesus has to give. Our tendency is to get caught up in the work of the day as it relates to entertaining and activity. But if we come to days like this—days when we walk among those who so need Jesus—with an expectancy of what God will do, our whole outlook may be changed. Agents of salvation, we know not only the joy of what Christ has done and is doing in us, but also the joy of what he can and will do in those we love for him.
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Jeff Hopper
November 21, 2012
Copyright 2012 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.