Dear Christian friends:

When a popular person plans her wedding all the people want to get invited to the wedding and reception. They are very glad and honored to hear that their names are written in the brides book or on her invitation list.

In the Bible God compares heaven with a wonderful wedding feast (Matthew 22:1-14). And here in our text Jesus says that God has a book. All the people who will go to heaven have their name written in God's book.

In this chapter we see that Jesus had sent 70 of His disciples to go to all the cities to teach and preach in His name to heal the sick and to command out evil spirits from people who were ruled by evil spirits. Whey they finished they came back to Jesus to report about their work. They were very glad about their success and said to Jesus, "Lord, even the devils obey us through Your name." Then Jesus told them, "Rejoice not because the spirits obey you; but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." (Verse 20)

These 70 rejoiced about the wrong thing. So often we today rejoice about the wrong things. We rejoice about our success, our power and our teaching and preaching ability and other things. But what we really ought to rejoice we often are not eager about it. We, too, like the 70, need correction and admonishing of Jesus here in our text when He says:

We should rejoice about that because we don't deserve it. By nature we are sinful and unclean and deserve to have our name listed in the devil's book. Really, only good holy, perfect people like Jesus deserve to have their name in God's book.

When we consider what God's Word says about our heart, our nature and when we honestly look back on our life and deeds, can we say that we are worthy to have our name in God's book? Do you hate others? Do you fail in your work and duty? Have you been lazy and careless? Are you jealous and feel envious in your heart when others have better things than you have?

Even we who are Christians often fail to thank and love and serve Jesus? Do you kick and complain about doing Jesus' work? About giving for Church and welfare and missions?

You know that you often kick and complain and criticize against Jesus and His work here at Church. Not true? Many of our members spend more time and money for pleasure than for Jesus and His work. If you are honest you must with red face and shame answer, "Yes" to many of these questions.

Then I ask you again, "Are you worthy to have your name printed in God's heavenly book? No, we are worthy only to have our name in the devil's book.

But thank and praise our wonderful God. He knows all about our sins and still loves us and pities us. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to be born from one of us and to live and die for us. Although we are not worthy He loves us and puts our name in His Book.

Rejoice not because you have power; but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.

Our names are written in God's book because Christ obeyed the heavenly Father and came here among us and conquered Satan for us. In the text when the 70 disciples rejoice because the devils obeyed them Jesus said, "I beheld Satan as lightening fall from heaven." He means to show the disciples that He and He alone is their savior.

In the desert Satan tempted Jesus and tried to get him to give up suffering and dying for our sins. The devil offered Jesus all the glory, power, and riches of this world if He would deny God and His plan of saving the world, but Jesus refused to listen to him. By that Satan fell as lighting from heaven. Through that temptation and many more Jesus continued on the way to the cross as we see again each Wednesday in Lenten Service. He lived and died for us, shedding His blood for our forgiveness.

So our names are written in God's Book not with ink, but with the blood of Jesus Christ. If you confess your sins and trust in His blood, you have full and free forgiveness.

Now because your names are written in God's Book you should REJOICE, always. Paul wrote to the Philippians: "Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice," and he wrote that letter while in prison in Rome. Even in prison Paul could rejoice. He knew that because of Jesus crucified His name was in God's book.

He says, "in nothing shall I be ashamed, but with all boldness as always, so also now Christ shall be magnified (honored, praised) in my body, whether it be by life or by death. I live for Christ, and if I die that is better." (Philippians 1:20-21)

The 70 came from their preaching trip rejoicing because they were successful teachers. But Jesus didn't want them to brag and rejoice about that, but to rejoice only in His grace. Without Him they have nothing to teach and can do nothing. Without Jesus their names are still in the devil's book and they have no power over the devil. They should rejoice only in His grace.

So you and I, we must not brag about our own success in church work and think we are so great and better than others and quarrel and argue about honor in the church.

Let us humbly praise only Jesus and be proud and happy in Him because our names are written in God's Book, written not with our ink, but with His blood.

Amen.