“However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
                                                                    Luke 10:20    NIV

When I was a teenager our youth group did a lot of missional outings.  Sometimes our youth pastor would put us in groups of two and send us out in the city park to share our faith, other times we would travel to nearby towns and help smaller churches.  Right before I started College we went way up north to a secluded town to help a new church.  One night on that trip the teens in the town all met at a park and my team ended up in a share-a-thon of sorts, witnessing about Christ for hours.  I remember the exhilaration I felt after that event.

Luke 10 records how Jesus sent out 72 disciples to spread the gospel message.   When the people got home they were so excited about how God used them to reach the people and even cast out demons; much like my friends and I felt after the youth trip.  Jesus followers began telling Him how amazing it was that “even the demons submit to us in your name.”1  Jesus quickly responded to their reports as He recognized the door to pride was creeping open by their comments and warned them to not get caught up in their spiritual authority but to always remember to stay thankful for their salvation.

I went to an event and one person at the table kept hi-jacking the conversation.   Whenever anyone shared about a situation or struggle this person automatically told the other person how they should take authority over that situation and most often followed up with an example of how they had done this in their life. When Christians get out of balance and focus on their authority over their salvation, it’s a dangerous place. We need to keep ourselves in a gratitude for grace mindset so we won’t easily get to puffed up and out of balance.

[tweetthis]We need to keep ourselves in a gratitude for grace mindset #grace[/tweetthis]

Choose today to brag about your salvation with others.  Remember your spiritual authority in Christ and use it, but never let it become your focus.

Prayer

Father…I want to thank-You for saving my life and writing my name in heaven. Help me to confidently use the spiritual authority You’ve given me while keeping a proper focus that I was once in need of a savior, so I don’t fall into pride.  Let me live in a gratitude for grace.  In Jesus Name…Amen

1           Luke 10:19

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Sherry Stahl