Luke 10:17-20
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Take a moment to settle into your surroundings and then begin to recognize your breath. As you breathe in, call on the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
Recall our last few meditations on Luke 10:1-16. Then read today’s passage, Luke 10:17-20.
At times in the biblical narrative, God pulls back the curtain between the earthly and heavenly realms. And because God is not bound by space and time, these glimpses of another reality don’t necessarily fit into a neat human timeline.
As the seventy-two disciples return sharing news of their experiences, Jesus has a divine vision: “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning!”
Years later, one of the twelve apostles, John, will write about his own vision of the defeat of the “great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world (Revelation 12:9).”
Jesus’ implication is clear: as his followers go out in his name demonstrating and communicating the Good News of God’s Kingdom their actions have a direct effect on the ultimate defeat of evil.
Take some time to meditate on this thought: As a representative of Jesus, every time you demonstrate or communicate God’s Kingdom to those around you, you are participating in the ultimate defeat of evil and the restoration of God’s shalom to the world.
Read Luke 10:17-20 again.
If we are following Jesus faithfully and open to recognizing his divine activity in and around us, we will sometimes experience amazing things. But these glimpses of another realm cannot become our focus. Whether we are treading on the powers of evil or simply involved in the daily, ordinary stuff of life, Jesus must remain our highest goal and our true north.
Your soul is safe with him because of his divine, sacrificial work on your behalf, and you can rejoice whether you are winning spiritual battles or vacuuming the floor because he holds the past and future, and he knows your name.
For the remainder of your time in meditation today, get still and listen to Jesus. If other thoughts invade, notice them and then let them pass. But if you believe you are hearing something form Jesus, take note of it.
What is Jesus inviting you to do or do differently today?
How do you plan to respond?
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The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide ebook can help you learn how to recognize God's voice, how to read and understand the Bible, how to develop deep spiritual friendships, and how to become the person you were meant to be. Use it alone, with a friend or in a small group.
