Serpents and Scorpions
Posted by: forthrightmag <forthrightmag@...>
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Straight to the Cross
When troubles come, no one knows better than Job. 'In
Search of Perfection: Studies from Job,' by Michael E.
Brooks. Click here:
forthrightpress.com/#InSearchOfPerfection
COLUMN: FIELD NOTES
Serpents and Scorpions
by Michael E. Brooks
"Then the seventy returned with joy, saying,
'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in
your name.' And he said to them, 'I saw
Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
Behold, I give you the authority to trample
on serpents and scorpions, and over all the
power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any
means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice
in this, that the spirits are subject to
you, but rather rejoice because your names
are written in heaven'" (Luke 10:17-20).
On one of my first visits to the eastern Terai (plains
area) of Nepal, my host warned me about going outside
at night. I must be careful, he said, because there
were many cobras in the area and they were particularly
active (and dangerous) at night.
Recently I visited the Ek Na Katarung Church in the
Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. While the local preacher was
introducing me, my wife pointed to the wall just behind
his head where a very large spider was resting. In a
picture she took it appears to be only inches behind
him.
Sometimes I think it would be wonderful to have the
authority to trample on serpents and scorpions like
that which Jesus granted the seventy. It might prove a
very useful gift for preaching in remote areas today,
just as it was in theirs. Though it is certain that his
emphasis in this saying is on their ability to overcome
spiritual enemies, there are times when both temporal
and spiritual powers threaten us.
Although we do not possess the same miraculous
spiritual gifts in our age as those given in New
Testament times, Jesus' promise does have practical
modern application to us, just as it did to them. At
the very least we learn two important lessons from this
text.
First, God gives us the abilities, resources and
opportunities to do incredible things. Whereas we may
not perform miracles, we can save souls with the power
of the gospel (Romans 1:16), bring joy and comfort
through ministering to those in need (James 1:27), and
overcome Satan's temptations by following the teaching
of Scripture (Ephesians 6:12-17).
Additionally, we glorify God and proclaim his wisdom as
we serve him and do good works (Ephesians 3:10-11; 1
Peter 2:12). Every believer is gifted to serve God in
various ways (Romans 12:3-8) and by those gifts is
enabled to live with great power (Philippians 4:13).
The second lesson is that no matter how much we are
able to do for God, we are far more blessed by what God
does for us. Unfortunately, many in religious circles
seem to feel that what they do is what brings glory and
honor. They extol their own spirituality, their
generous gifts, their great Bible knowledge, or their
regular attendance of worship assemblies.
We are reminded of the Pharisees in the New Testament
whose prayers and alms were done that men might admire
them, not so that God would be honored.
Jesus told the seventy to rejoice because their names
were written in Heaven. That is, to rejoice because of
what God had done for them, rather than because of what
they were doing for God. We must learn the same
attitude. It is not what we do that assures our
salvation, or that of others; it is what God has done
through Jesus Christ.
This does not deny the importance of trusting
obedience. Salvation is conditional. What we do
matters.
But no matter how much we do, we cannot earn salvation.
We must depend upon God's loving grace. Let us always
rejoice that God loves us, and let our work for him be
done in gratitude and praise, always honoring him in
every way.
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