OCTOBER 27, 2014
New
To The Family
Read: Luke 15:3-7
There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. —Luke 15:7
While
on a ministry trip with a Christian high school chorale to Jamaica, we
witnessed an illustration of God’s love in action. On the day we visited an
orphanage for disabled children and teens, we learned that Donald, one of the
boys our kids had interacted with—a teen with cerebral palsy—was going to be
adopted.
When
the adopting couple arrived at the “base” where we were staying, it was a joy
to talk to them about Donald. But what was even better was what happened later.
We were at the base when Donald and his new parents arrived just after they had
picked him up at the orphanage. As the brand-new mom embraced her son, our
students gathered around her and sang praise songs. Tears flowed. Tears of joy.
And Donald was beaming!
Later,
one of the students said to me, “This reminds me of what it must be like in
heaven when someone is saved. The angels rejoice because someone has been
adopted into God’s family.” Indeed, it was a picture of the joy of heaven when
someone new joins God’s forever family by faith in Christ. Jesus spoke of that
grand moment when He said, “There will be . . . joy in heaven over one sinner
who repents” (Luke 15:7).
Praise
God that He has adopted us into His family. No wonder the angels rejoice!
The
One who made the heavens,
Who
died on Calvary,
Rejoices
with His angels
When
one soul is set free. —Fasick
Angels rejoice when we repent.
Insight
In
Luke 15, Jesus delivers a trilogy of parables to describe the pursuing love of
God for the lost. The first, seen here in verses 3-7, displays the shepherd
desperately pursuing his lost sheep. The second, in verses 8-10, pictures a
woman tenaciously searching for a lost coin. The third, in verses 11-32, tells
of a father’s compassion for a wayward child and of his grace and forgiveness
when that prodigal returns home. In each parable, the result of finding the
lost is a celebration (vv.6,9,22-24) that depicts the great joy experienced in
heaven when the lost return to their heavenly Father.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
