October 22
October 22
The things that cause you to rejoice reveal what effectively and functionally rules your heart.
My friend was always eager to share stories of what God was doing in his ministry and at his church. Story would follow story so quickly that it was hard to jump in and ask a question. He told his stories with lots of enthusiasm and joy. At first I found this attractive, but then I became concerned. At first it felt good to be around someone who actually enjoyed long-term ministry, with all its peaks and valleys. Initially I found his happiness in ministry attractive, but then I began to see it in another way. His joy seemed to be more about himself than about the Lord who was behind every ministry success. He seemed taken with the fact that God had decided to use him. As he told his stories, he always seemed to be the central character. He was always on center stage, with the spotlight trained on him. His accounts were all about how God had used him and his gifts in a particular way with a particular person.
Rejoicing is never morally neutral. Joy in service or ministry is never neutral. Joy in marriage, parenting, friendship, or community is never neutral. Joy can be deceptive. Joy can be idolatrous or rebellious. Joy can be glory thievery, when we take credit for what only God could do and produce. So it is always spiritually beneficial to examine your joy. What sparks the kind of joy that fills your heart? Your joy always reveals what your heart loves.
Jesus talks about joy in Luke 10:
The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:17–20)
Jesus had sent out his followers to minister in his name, and, when they came back, they were excited and filled with joy. They began to tell stories of the power they had been able to exercise against Satan. In the middle of their ministry tales, Jesus said, “Yes, I have blessed you with awesome power and authority, but that is not what you should be rejoicing in. Ministry power should not be the source of your joy.” Everyone who has been called into any form of service in God’s name needs to hear these words. Be careful how you rejoice over ministry success.
What should be the source of our joy? Jesus is quite clear: “Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” We should never stop celebrating the gift of gifts and the miracle of miracles: that God has chosen us to be the objects of his amazing redeeming grace. The more that saving grace captures your joy, the less you will look for other reasons to rejoice. May redeeming joy satisfy our hearts.