2/24/10 Luke 15
Where is the Rejoicing?
Luke 15:6 “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!”
Luke 15:9 “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!”
Luke 15:23b,24c “let us eat and celebrate” “And they began to celebrate.”
What cause you to rejoice and celebrate? Do you rejoice when someone gives you a gift? Do you rejoice when your team wins? Do you rejoice when you get to spend time with someone? Do you rejoice when someone praises you? Do you rejoice when others rejoice? There is an element of rejoicing for me in each of these things, but nothing compares to the rejoicing I experience when people experience the forgiveness experienced in the name of Jesus Christ. In Luke 15 there are the Lost Parables, the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Each of these parables makes the point of something which has been lost, but then was found. The idea of being found in these verses is directly tied to repentance. Repentance means to turn away from something. When we repent we turn away from our sin and turn toward God. We agree with God about our sin and desire Him more than we desire our destructive actions.
In each of these parables there is rejoicing when a relationship has been restored. The shepherd rejoices over his lost sheep, the woman rejoices over her lost silver coin, and the father celebrates over the return over his youngest son. In each of these parables the one who is rejoicing invites others to rejoice or celebrate with them. My question is; Where is the Rejoicing? Where are people repenting and experiencing the forgiveness of sins? There should be much rejoicing in the presence of God’s people as they testify and see individual lives forgiven and transformed. The truth is that we are not seeing much rejoicing. Are we, the church, seeking the lost and telling them the good news that there is forgiveness available and a relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit to be experienced? Or are we lost ourselves? Have we lost our first love? Rev2:4 Maybe if we repent and experience anew the rejoicing that follows forgiveness we would “do the deeds you did at first” Rev 2:5 and declare to others the need of initial and continual repentance.
Prayer: Father, Forgive me for letting other things dominate my life rather than a love of you and my neighbors. I pray that your church would return to it’s first love and do the deeds it did at first. May we experience a fresh, the forgiveness found only in You, motivating us to tell others. I pray that others will repent and come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ and that there would be great rejoicing in your church and with the angels in your presence, in Jesus forgiving Name. Amen.