The Bible did not give us any clue about the names of the 70 disciples that Jesus sent to preach. What was common with all of them was that they were all equipped same way – with the name of the Lord. On their return, they all had a wonderful testimony: “Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” As far as they were concerned, their outing was a huge success, granting an occasion for great rejoicing. Jesus had a different perspective. The disciples were rejoicing for the wrong reason. Whereas they were rejoicing for results in their mission, Jesus would rather have them rejoice because their names were written in God’s record in heaven.

The ways and values of the world are diametrically opposed to those of the kingdom. In the world, success is measured majorly by results. In the kingdom, it is known through obedience…Obeying the Lord is by far of greater value than all the results we can boast about in this world.

The ways and values of the world are diametrically opposed to those of the kingdom. In the world, success is measured majorly by results. In the kingdom, it is known through obedience. If the disciples did not post the kind of results they reported, they would still have been successful in the eyes of Jesus because they obeyed His command to go. Moses was told to speak to the rock, but he struck it. He got water quite alright, but he displeased the Lord; so he failed. That failure was one reason he could not enter the fullness of Canaan. Obeying the Lord is by far of greater value than all the results we can boast about in this world.