Don't Count The Chickens Feed The Hens

My Utmost For His Highest 

Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you… —Luke 10:20

{CHAMBERS} “Never seek after anything other than the approval of God, and always be willing to go “outside the camp, bearing His reproach” (Hebrews 13:13). In Luke 10:20, Jesus told the disciples not to rejoice in successful service, and yet this seems to be the one thing in which most of us do rejoice. We have a commercialized view— we count how many souls have been saved and sanctified, we thank God, and then we think everything is all right. Yet our work only begins where God’s grace has laid the foundation. Our work is not to save souls, but to disciple them. Salvation and sanctification are the work of God’s sovereign grace, and our work as His disciples is to disciple others’ lives until they are totally yielded to God.”

{ELGIN} Most of the focus on training Christians is on evangelism not on discipleship.  Certainly evangelism is important … (Matthew 28:19) ”Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”  That is known as the great commission.  But, it is often overshadowed but the desire to share the Gospel.  Certainly one must be a Christian before one can be disciple.  Otherwise we will make people religious but lacking the power of God. We must share the Gospel with others. (1 Peter 3:15) “But in your hearts revere Christ as LORD. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” But that is not our only responsibility.  When I was in Vietnam I would receive reports daily from advisors who accompanied South Vietnamese units on missions. The minimum report I would receive was 1 Viet Cong killed, one M-26 hand grenade captured.  IT has been said that the entire population of Vietnam was “killed” more than once according to reports. We can become so preoccupied with “results”  as proof that what we are doing is effective that we deemphasize those things that are intangible, like spiritual growth and maturity.  The number of salvations on a mission trip is not the important point of the trip … obedience to God and trust that He will accomplish His purpose in your obedience is what is important.  When you are concerned about results .. numbers … you are in danger of robbing God of His glory. King David numbered the people .. and God was not pleased.  Something to think about.