...knowing Christ...

“17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!’ 18 He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19 Indeed, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’

21 At that very hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’

23 Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see but did not see it and to hear what you hear but did not hear it’” Luke 10:17-24.

When Jesus speaks of seeing “satan fall like lightning from heaven” He gives the 72 power over all evil (verses 18 & 19). Then He celebrates His unique relationship with the Father when “at that very hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit” (verse 21). But Luke is not interested at all in describing Jesus as a superman. Jesus knew the battle He was facing and fighting. Remember, Jesus has already determined to go to Jerusalem, and sensing this urgency, He sent the 72 on ahead of Him. So remember that Jesus is not just interested in teaching us a new way of life or a new depth of spirituality. Jesus is interested in defeating satanic, breaking his power, and opening the way for everyone to God’s new3 creation where evil is dead and gone. Jesus is interested in creating a new people who recognize Jesus as the true Son of God, the Messiah. Through the work of Jesus, Jesus wants you and me to know God as Father.

So today please pray that God will give you His sufficient grace to desire that you know Him, not intellectually, but in your heart, by your love for Him and for others, and that the only thing in your life that will ever matter is that you follow Him!

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner. Help me today to walk with You, to listen to Your voice, to love You, and to do everything possible to follow You now and forever, amen.

From the Bible:

“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me’” Matthew 16:24.

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” 1 Peter 2:21.

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’” John 8:12.

“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you”

1 Corinthians 11:1-2.