04/24/2017
In what do we rejoice? Are we taking personal satisfaction in the number of souls we bring to God? Are we celebrating God's victories or the power He has Given us? Would it surprise you that Jesus said don't do these things?
“Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."”
Luke 10:20 ESV
There is a difference between rejoicing, celebrating, and the simpler feelings of joy and pleasure. Our celebration and rejoicing should be as a result of our soul's successful salvation. It is also at the entry into heaven of fellow converts because that is our goal in faith... the moment when we are judged worthy to live in God's presence is reason for celebration!
“Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”
Philippians 4:3-4 ESV
So who rejoices for those newly brought to faith? Who celebrates the new souls saved by the Lord? Well first in the celebration is the celebrant who finds themselves saved by the grace of God, and then secondly, the very angels in heaven...
“Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."”
Luke 15:10 ESV
There is great danger in our rejoicing over God's victories. In such celebration we are prone to claim part and parcel in His victory when in fact that is His alone. I have heard pastors boast from the pulpit regarding the number of souls they had saved; the number who came to the altar in the last number of days... that is not their victory. Teaching and discipling them is their job, and ours. Oswald Chambers spoke directly to this when he wrote:
"We have the commercial view - so many souls saved and sanctified, thank God, now it is all right. Our work begins where God's grace has laid the foundation; we are not to save souls but to disciple them. Salvation and sanctification are the work of God's sovereign grace; our work as His disciples is to disciple lives until they are wholly yielded to God." - Oswald Chambers
We are glad for those who have been transferred into our discipleship through God's grace, but now the work begins. We show them our lives and instruct them in God's Holy Word until on their day of successful judgement the rejoicing occurs in earnest.
This begs the question... how do I properly instruct those that God has entrusted to my care? Well we don't do it by force, we don't dictate faith... we lead gently and demonstrate the love of God to those who look to us. Chambers made an interesting statement regarding the way that Jesus taught His own disciples:
"Jesus never dictates to us in that way. Whenever Our Lord talked about discipleship, He always prefaced it with an "IF," never with an emphatic assertion - "You Must." Discipleship carries an option with it." - Oswald Chambers
I am reminded of a couple of observations. First, our faith is by choice and unlike a military contract that once signed is binding... our contract with God is always open ended and He has no desire to chain you to himself outside your will. His pleasure is in your absolute desire to love and serve Him. The second is more of an example... my mother would always say "you catch more bees with honey." She was teaching me how to influence people, and it wasn't by force, it was by giving them something that would make them want to join with me. Our honey of faith is love, and the trap is not a trap at all, but rather the reward of God himself.
So... we do not rejoice in those things that are truly God's victories; we take on the work of discipling new Christians; we teach with love and through example, and we realize that this wonderful walk of faith is by choice only. If we do all of these things and find ourselves, and those we have discipled, judged acceptable on judgement day, THEN we can rejoice and celebrate the victory.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for those souls you have allowed me to disciple. I pray now that you give me the wisdom needed to do this job well, and that on the final day you will find them acceptable to you; perfected by the blood of Jesus. Holy Father help me as I walk towards righteousness and sanctification; never let my faith wander, or my attention turn from those things you would have me do. I realize that when my faith falters it impacts those around me who look to me in their search for your reflection. Lord, let my words and life be like honey to the senses of those who seek you. Let your presence draw others to you through me as your will is done. Most of all Father, let all glory come to you for the things that you do, because my call is forever to your will and service, and my rejoicing is solely in my name bring added to your book of life... all else is your victory.
Rich Forbes