Tag: joy in heaven
Joy in heaven!
Scripture reading for March 31st: Joshua 5-8, Psalm 14, Luke 15
Key Scriptures: Joshua 6:23-25 “So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel. And they burned the city with fire, and everything in it. Only the silver and gold, the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. But Rahab the prostitute and her father’s household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.”
Joshua entered the promised land and faced Jericho. God gave him a plan to take the city. But the spies had been hidden by Rahab and she had tied the scarlet cord on her window and gathered her family inside. Joshua give instructions to the spies to go and bring her and her family out before destroying the city. God delights in saving the lost who come to Him by faith!
Psalm 14:7 “Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of His people, Let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord, thank You for Your great compassion for the lost sinner and for making provision through faith. Help me to bring many out of strongholds of sin into the safety of Your covenant through the Gospel!
Luke 15:6-7 “. . ., rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost. Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
This man eats with sinners!
Scripture reading for October 24th: Luke 13-15
“Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear Him (Jesus). But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke15:1-2
Are you a person who welcomes sinners? Are you comfortable around those that the culture would consider outcasts or unacceptable? Would those who are “sinners” see you as a person that they would feel comfortable hanging out with? Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to seek and save the “lost” of this world.
When He walked the earth, He sought out people who were open to His message of the Kingdom. It was on one of those occasions that Jesus responded to the muttering of the religious leaders about His hanging around sinners. He told them three parables to help them understand the heart of God for those who were lost. The first parable was about a man who had a hundred sheep and found out that one of them was missing. He left the main flock to go and search for the lost sheep. When he found that lost sheep, he called friends and neighbors together and celebrated! The moral of this story was that there was joy in heaven over one lost person being restored! (Luke 15:7)
Another parable concerned a woman who had lost one of ten silver coins. She searched diligently in her house until finding it and then invited friends to rejoice with her for her restored fortune! The same bottom line is emphasized. There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents! (Luke 15:10)
The final parable concerned a man who had two sons. One wanted his inheritance right now. His father gave him the money and he left to squander it on loose living. He ended up eating with pigs to satisfy his hunger! This lost son decided to go back to his father and beg for mercy. The father was watching for his lost son, saw him coming, and ran to meet him. After a brief apology, the father restored this son and threw a party of celebration!
We truly have a friend in Jesus Christ. He loves lost people. Our Father in heaven sent Him to help those willing to return to Father’s House. If you are not “home”, reach out to Him today! His arms are open wide!