Rejoice that your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:20)
WE LIVE IN ARIZONA where snakes and scorpions exist, but last night was the first time we had a scorpion in our bedroom. My wife stepped out of bed and kicked a string (or so she thought) out of the way. After a successful hunt, we found that the scorpion was a bark scorpion, a large light brown one that can cause death.
We both were shaken by this and thanked the Lord for His protection. Then we thought of a verse in today’s passage: “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions” (Luke 10:19). His protection is upon His children. Often, we celebrate that we see God’s protecting hand. Yet Jesus told us to rejoice first that we have been saved. Rejoicing in God’s protection is not as important to Him as our rejoicing in the salvation that He applies to our souls.
The Lamb’s blood-washed children are privileged and have seen great things that God’s people in the past desired to see. We have experienced many things that have filled our hearts with gratitude. But the most wonderful thing we have to be grateful for is that the Lamb of God shed His blood for our sins.
Celebrate your personal relationship with the Lord, and you will draw closer to Him.
Bob Segress has served as a pastor, licensed psychologist, college educator, and prison minister. He currently lives in Surprise, Arizona.
