Luke 10:17-20 — “In this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” The seventy disciples returned from their mission in Galilee and they were excited, not about the people who’d been converted, but about the power they had exercised. They were at risk of becoming proud, if they hadn’t already.
In His reply, Jesus reminded them that Gospel ministry is about names written in heaven. He drew a contrast between the gifts the disciples had received, and the grace they had experienced. Their own salvation from sin and death was far greater cause for rejoicing than power over demons.
We face the same dangers that these disciples did. We too can miss the point of the Christian life and Gospel ministry. We can become enamoured with things that are incidental to the Gospel or that are associated with the Gospel, but are not the Gospel. We also face the ever-present temptation to become proud and self-reliant.