08/19/2026
Pastor's weekly Devotional and Bible study
SCRIPTURAL TEXT: Luke 10:1-3;17-20
"After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, 'The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves."' Then the seventy 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 give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." (NKJV)
PASTOR'S THOUGHTS:
I've entitled our study today, "Rejoice in the Savior alone with True Success."
There is a great emphasis on achievement and success in our modern day culture. The crowds flock to seminars and conferences that teach various ways on how to be a very successful individual. Likewise it seems that our culture is obsessed with being measured as a successful person.
Christians often fall into the trap of simply, extravagantly desiring spiritual success; that is, success by and patterned after the forms set by this religious age in which we now live. We as believers in the body of Christ Jesus must never seek after anything other than the approval of God, and always be willing to "go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come" (Hebrews 13:13-14). Believers go "outside the camp" whenever they are denounced for Jesus. They may lose their (social) home, but they obtain a city "whose builder and maker is God" (Heb. 11:10, 16).
In our Scriptural Text today, verse 20, Jesus is saying, "don't rejoice in your successful service for me, but rejoice because of your right relationship with me." You may fall into the trap of rejoicing that God has used you, yet you will never be able to fully measure what God will do through you until you have a right relationship with Jesus Christ that is beyond comprehension. If you keep your relationship right with Him, then regardless of your circumstances, or whoever, or also whatever you may encounter each day, He will continue to pour "rivers of living water" through you. John penned these words spoken by the Lord Jesus in his gospel, "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38).
You must never fail to remember that once you have the right relationship with God through salvation and sanctification, that whatever your circumstances may be, you have been placed in them by God. God uses the reaction of your life to your circumstances to fulfill His purpose as long as you continue to "walk in the light as He is in the light" (1 John 1:7).
Our tendency is to put the emphasis on service while God puts the emphasis on relationship. The very best you can do is total failure no matter how it looks in the eyes of the world. The very least you do in relationship with Him is absolute success no matter how the world measures your success. It is the work that God does through us that counts, not what we do for Him. The one will of God for His people is to bring in the harvest. Jesus is "bringing many sons to glory..." (Hebrews 2:10).
In our study verses today the disciples that Jesus sent out return rejoicing that even the demons submit to them. But Jesus corrects them and gives them His perspective, which is also given for us to listen to.
THE SWINDOLL STUDY BIBLE states this: "We're not necessarily meant to exult in the fact that we have such great power. That's not supposed to be the emphasis of our ministry. The simple fact is that you do have authority. But if you want to rejoice in something, rejoice in the fact that you belong to the Savior and that your name is written down in heaven! That's what you need to rejoice in. If there come times that you must deal with wicked spirts, then deal with them with Jesus' authority. But that shouldn't be the emphasis of your life of faith. Never seek it." (CHUCK SWINDOLL)
THE ANDREWS STUDY BIBLE teaches us that serpents and scorpions (v. 19) in our text today is Symbolic of evil (Gen. 3:1-5; Deut. 8:15; Ps. 140:1-3). The enemy is Satan. Nothing has power to permanently harm those whom Jesus sends.
NOTE: Believers need to constantly be aware of the fact that evil influences are all around us in our daily lives and walk with God. Keep your focus on the Cross of Calvary.
Dr. Ron Herrod founder of R.H.E.M.A. states this in his devotional journal, Through The Word -- And Around The World -- A Personal Spiritual Journey: "Unless the worker lives a life that is 'hidden with Christ in God' (Col. 3:3) he is apt to become an irritating dictator to others instead of an activating, living disciple. Many of us are dictators, dictating our desires to individuals and to groups, but Jesus never dictates to us in that way. Whenever our Lord talked about discipleship He always prefaced His words with an "if." Never with a forceful or dogmatic statement -- "you must." Discipleship carries with it an option. Do you glory in what you do for Him, or what He does through you?
