I was so excited about the message I felt God had given me for the group at the house meeting. I had always believed in the Holy Spirit working in me and through me, but this group was different. Prophesying and visions were heavily sought after, and I felt I was getting there, starting to “belong.”
When it came time for me to deliver the message from God, I was so nervous I was shaking. But I did it and it was received well. Then I was called upon to do something I was not ready for - to prophesy and pray over someone who was struggling. The readiness and boldness that I had experienced when I got the message from God quickly seeped away, and I eventually went back to my seat, defeated. I’ve never gone back to that meeting again.
The disciples in today’s passage were more successful than I was at signs and wonders, probably because they were really listening to Jesus and not just following the crowd. But they learned the same lesson I did that day. They reported with pride and wonder that even the demons listened and were subject to them. Jesus responded by telling them that was not the important thing. The important thing was that their names were written in heaven.
I’m not saying that God cannot work supernaturally among us; he certainly did that with the disciples. What I am saying is that I’ve learned to keep my eyes on what’s really important. I don’t need to seek gifts that God never intended me to have, just so I can feel important. What I need to do is rejoice that I belong to him, and let the gifts he gives me flow out of that.
Since that meeting, God has shown me that he has a unique way of using me, not in standing up and delivering messages from him, but typing and speaking one-on-one, encouraging and sharing scripture from his heart. He has also brought friends into my life who need him but don’t know it yet. I want to be faithful to let him work through me to reach those friends. And at the end of the day, the important thing is not how many gifts I have used, but that my name is written in heaven. God is with me, Jesus has saved me, and the Holy Spirit is guiding me. Those are the true gifts, everything else flows out of that.
Dear Jesus, thank you for being faithful to me, even when I have failed and gotten my eyes off of what you have truly called me to do and be. Help me to be faithful to seek and serve you, and rejoice that my name is written in heaven. In Jesus name, amen.
Throughout this day: What does it look like for you to rejoice today, that your name is written in heaven?
Photo Credit: Yulia