Rejoice That Your Names Are Writte In Heaven

It is a joy to serve the Lord.
It brings a warm feeling into the heart when I see people touched by the love of God, even more amazing when I was the instrument to minister that love.

There's also a great feeling of togetherness when serving with brothers & sisters who are similarly on fire with passion for our Creator. The love of Christ & the fellowship of the Holy Spirit has a way of bringing people together... It is a bond of more than just friendship; we are siblings in Christ =)

On the way back, this verse came to mind though... Luke 10:20 (Ok la, I confess, I had to look up that verse online... I can't recall offhand where exactly in the Bible Jesus said the following words...):

However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

It just reminds that the joy of fellowship, the awe at having experienced the power of God moving through us and the warm fuzzy feeling of seeing lives touched by the Spirit and a myriad of other sensations that comes from doing the Lord's work are just the perks...

The real reward comes when we humbly acknowledge that all the glory goes to Jesus.
Even as we revel in the perks, we should always come back to the foot of the Cross.
We are merely doing what servants ought to do, Lord, You deserve all the glory.. For we are merely instruments, it was You who was working through us.

The true joy comes from knowing that we have brought pleasure to the heart of Jesus with our little acts of service & obedience...

Luke 10:
21At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure."

Indeed, serving the Lord is a reward unto its own... =)

"Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."
-- Luke 10:23-24

This post is dedicated to YAM's Marlene & Eugene, the ever remarkable Rhinos for God (Prakash, Wilfred & Daniel), ZJ's Ryan & the dedicated Cathecists of St. Stephen's Church & their families (your faith has touched our hearts)