The Joy That Pleases God

The Joy That Pleases God

In Luke 10:20 Jesus says, “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” In Revelation 13:8 it is written about those who have their names written in the Book of Life of the Lamb. These words bring a blessed truth to the light.

Jesus wants to emphasize the one true great thing that is of crucial importance: that our name is written in heaven, or in the Book of Life—that we have partaken of life. Without it, there is nothing to rejoice over.

Life comes into being when we reckon ourselves dead with Christ, and if we are dead with Him, we believe we shall also live with Him. Rom. 6:8. What did Jesus die to? He died to all sin and self-life of every description. And what did He live for? He lived in order to do God’s will; He lived for the purpose of keeping all of God’s commandments. This is life; this is what it means to live.

The only thing Jesus wants us to rejoice over is that we, by faith, have partaken of this life.

What does it mean that the spirits were subject to them? It was something that was a consequence of life; it was something that “was added to them.” Matt. 6:33.

A gift is not life itself, but life gives us a share of the gifts. Let us look at 1 Corinthians 13: If we have faith for performing all kinds of miracles, and if we can speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and if we have such a strong will that we give our bodies to be burned, it profits us nothing if we do not have love. Seeing that it does not profit us, there is also no good reason to rejoice over it. What was it that was of profit? It was love!!!

“This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.” 1 John 5:3. We notice that love and life are about one thing: keeping His commandments and doing His will. It is always the only thing that is profitable. Then it is truly worthwhile to rejoice over it. His name be praised for the eternal life that was with the Father and has been revealed to us through Jesus Christ and His servants!

The reason that we submit to one another in the fear of God without any humanly organized church is eternal life from the Father. This is something over which we ought to rejoice. Have you been successful in submitting yourself in the Lord, brother? Then Jesus says to rejoice.

If you have not been successful, then grieve over your sin, your stiffness, and your obstinacy. Pray for humility, and you will receive it. This applies to all situations in life. Have you succeeded, brother, in loving your wife so that you did not become bitter toward her even though she showed no sign of acknowledging her folly? Were you able to be with her in that gentle spirit that is in Christ, patiently waiting until the Lord gave you an opportunity to speak the truth in such a way that she could receive it? Have you succeeded in doing that? Then rejoice over it, Jesus says.

Have you succeeded, sister, in submitting yourself under your own husband? And have you succeeded in obeying him, even though you thought you knew better? Then rejoice over this very thing, because doing such works is not of this world.

You who have much money, have you succeeded in being free from it? Have you succeeded in being generous to another person who was not as righteous as you? Let me tell you: Rejoice, and do not grow weary in doing the good!

You, who read this, have you succeeded in forgiving your neighbor over and over again so that there is no bitter root in your heart? Then rejoice exceedingly! If not, then grieve and weep; humble yourself and pray to God, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Think of how many deceived believers there are. They downright hate God’s commandments; they don’t even want to hear about them. But instead, they rejoice over the gifts. Most people are like the prodigal son. Oh, that they would soon return to the Father.