Attaboy

We humans are creatures that crave attention. Even if we are able to go about our three score and ten on this earth in total humility, we can’t help but be uplifted when someone pats us on the back and says, “Good job!” Hopefully we are able to turn the compliment into praise to the Father who gives us the strength to do everything we do, but we still get a warm fuzzy when our work is recognized. Sometimes that recognition comes in the form of a smile on the face of someone whose opinion we value, but however it is communicated, we all need an “attaboy” occasionally.

Luke 10 (NIV)

²¹At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

To properly understand this passage, we need to go back to the beginning of the chapter. Jesus has selected seventy-two additional disciples to participate in the spreading of the Gospel. These people had obviously been around Jesus and His apostles for some time, learning about the Good News themselves. Evidently there were more than seventy-two who were being discipled because Jesus had to pick the ones He wanted for this assignment. This is a perfect example of the “x factor” at work. Those who were closely following Jesus were growing in numbers not by addition but by multiplication. The original twelve were now more than seventy-two.

These newly appointed evangelists were given the charge to go into the towns where Jesus was going and share the Good News. Now Jesus did not send these disciples out without letting them know what to expect. Remember, the Pharisees and other religious leaders had already made up their minds that Jesus had to go. He wanted to make sure the ones who were sent out understood the perils they would be facing. Jesus was very blunt with His warning, “Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” (Luke 10:3) This was not going to be a walk in the park, and He wanted them to know what to expect.

After the traveling evangelists returned, they reported back to Jesus. Joyfully they said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” (Luke 10:17) Jesus replied that He had seen Satan fall from Heaven like lightning. He saw the results of their labors, but He warned them not to get so wrapped up in the outward signs of His power manifested in them that they forget the source of that power. Notice what He said, “do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in Heaven.” (Luke 10:20)

If you do not believe that God is aware of what we do on this earth, read this passage. Luke tells us that, “Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit …” Think about that! Jesus was happy about what these disciples had done. How many times do we read in the Scripture that Jesus was “full of joy?” What was it that created this joy in our Savior? He was happy because of what these disciples had accomplished in His name. They had learned the joy of taking their rightful place of dominion over the forces of evil. They had experienced victory over the devil. That was the source of their joy and that of Jesus. Notice then what Jesus did. He gave the glory to His Father. What a beautiful example for us to follow.

There is an old Celtic proverb that says, “Never give a sword to a man who doesn’t know how to dance.” It simply means that one must be able to tap into that inner joy that comes from knowing that we are fighting for The King and those who are His children. If we don’t have that joy, we cannot wield the sword in His name. This is the truth for which Jesus praised His Father. Those who are “wise in their own eyes” cannot understand it, but a child who has experienced the love of Jesus knows exactly what it means.

Do you want to bring joy to Jesus? ”Go ye therefore” armed with the Sword of the Spirit and filled with the joy of the dance of fellowship with the Father. That is His joy!

 We serve an awesome God!!!!!