Daily Devotion

 

When the Seventy returned, they were radiant with the triumphs which they had wrought in the name of Jesus. Jesus said to them. "I saw the devil fall like lightning from Heaven." That is a difficult phrase to understand. It can have two meanings. (1^st) it may mean, "I saw the forces of darkness and evil defeated; the citadel of Satan is stormed, and the kingdom of God is on the way." Apparently, Jesus knew that the deathblow to the devil and all his powers had been struck, however long his final conquest might be delayed. (2^nd) Equally well, it may be a warning against pride. The legend was that it was for a pride that rebelled against God that the devil was cast out of heaven where once he had been the chief of angels. It may be that Jesus was saying to the Seventy, "You have had your triumphs; keep yourself from pride, for once the chief of all the angels fell to pride and was cast from heaven."

Certainly, Jesus went on to warn His disciples against pride and over-confidence. It was true that they were given all power, but their greatest glory was that their names were written in Heaven.

 

It will always remain true that a man's greatest glory is not what he has done but what God has done for him. It might be claimed that the discovery of the use of chloroform saved the world more pain than any single medical discovery. Once someone asked Sir James Simpson who pioneered its use, "What do you regard as your greatest discovery?",expecting the answer, "Chloroform." But Simpson answered, "My greatest discovery was that Jesus Christ is my Savior."

 

Even the greatest man can say in the presence of God only,

                                      "Nothing in my hand I bring,

                                      Simply to the Cross I cling;

                                      Naked, come to thee for dress;

                                      Helpless, look to thee for grace;

                                      Foul, I to the fountain fly;

                                      Wash me Savior, or I die."

Life Application: The humble will inherit the kingdom of God. There is no room for pride in the kingdom of God. Give God all the glory both in song and in praise!

 

Praise/Prayer: Dear Father, thank You for loving creation so much that You sent Your Only Son, Jesus to show us how much you love the humanity You created. He showed us such wonderful love by healing the sick, feeding the masses, loving the children - and most of all - going to the Cross for our sins.   What LOVE! Now, we wait for the call home to Heaven. Hallelujah! Amen!