“I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10 NIV).
Have you ever lost anything? It seems the older I get the more forgetful I am. I forget where I put things all the time. When I finally find it I am so very happy. Lately, I lost a pocket watch that my husband had bought me. I knew I put it somewhere for safekeeping, but couldn’t remember where. I had looked everywhere around the house and was in a panic. One morning my husband was looking for a light bulb and found the pocket watch tucked in the light bulb box. I rejoiced when I saw it because I was so afraid I had lost it. He had looked a whole year for this antique watch for me and it was precious to me. Needless to say, I decided to put it in a more logical place.
Just as I rejoiced when I found what I thought was lost, so does God rejoice when a sinner repents.
Jesus spoke in parables and the above verse is at the end of a parable about a woman who has ten silver coins and loses one. She lights a lamp and looks through the house carefully. When she finds it, she tells her friends and neighbors and they rejoice with her. Jesus proceeds to say that this is the same way that the angels rejoice when a sinner repents.
Jesus wanted to let the people know through these stories that each person is precious to the Lord. That what they do is acknowledged in Heaven. There are several other stories that He told such as the lost sheep and the prodigal son.
The prodigal son used up all of his inheritance on wild living and partying, but when he came home feeling dejected, his father wrapped his arms around him and said, “This brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:32 NIV). You see God loves everyone and is waiting with arms open wide for those who repent and accept Him as their Savior. All of Heaven rejoices. Isn’t that fantastic? Do you know someone who needs to hear this good news? Do you know someone who is living a lifestyle that isn’t pleasing to God. It is time to tell them about Jesus and His love for them.
Dear Lord,
Help me to be a witness for you. I am so very thankful for those who showed me God’s wonderful love. Help me to show your love to others.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
