Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Nazarene Publishing House (The Foundry Publishing House) of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Wednesday, 6 September 2017 - "God Rejoices Over Our Repentance" by Norayr Hajian - Luke 15:1-10Luke 15:1 The tax-collectors and sinners kept gathering around to hear Yeshua, 2 and the P’rushim and Torah-teachers kept grumbling. “This fellow,” they said, “welcomes sinners — he even eats with them!” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “If one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, doesn’t he leave the other ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? 5 When he does find it, he joyfully hoists it onto his shoulders; 6 and when he gets home, he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Come, celebrate with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ 7 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who turns to God from his sins than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.
8 “Another example: what woman, if she has ten drachmas and loses one of these valuable coins, won’t light a lamp, sweep the house and search all over until she finds it? 9 And when she does find it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Come, celebrate with me, because I have found the drachma I lost.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy among God’s angels when one sinner repents.”
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As a young adult, I had entered a competition at work and had scored 99 out of 100. It was thrilling moment, complete with recognition at an awards banquet. Even though it was a highlight, I can still remember where that one point was missed and how I wished that I had not overlooked it.
Most of us would be delighted with 99 out of 100. However, not the Good Shepherd, not when the one missing represented a lost soul. When we lose something of importance, we go looking for it. It might be a coin, a wallet, or a treasured ring. After searching around, when we find the lost item, we celebrate. We call someone up and share the good news. There is rejoicing. How much more does God rejoice when the lost soul is found? It becomes a cause for celebration. However, the lost will not be found unless they are sought out.
While we are quite satisfied with 99 out of 100, God is still seeking out that one individual. Is that individual within your web of influence? If so, pray that God will work through you to bring about great rejoicing in Heaven.
Hymn for Today:
"Ring the Bells of Heaven" by William O. Cushing
1. Ring the bells of heaven! There is joy today,
For a soul, returning from the wild!
See the Father meets him out upon the way,
Welcoming His weary, wand'ring child.
Chorus:
Glory! Glory! How the angels sing;Glory!
Glory! How the loud harps ring!
'Tis the ransomed army, like a mighty sea,
Pealing forth the anthem of the free.
2. Ring the bells of heaven! There is joy today,
For the wand'rer now is reconciled;
Yes, a soul is rescued from his sinful way!
And is born anew a ransomed child.
Chorus:
Glory! Glory! How the angels sing;Glory!
Glory! How the loud harps ring!
'Tis the ransomed army, like a mighty sea,
Pealing forth the anthem of the free.
3. Ring the bells of heaven! Spread the feast today!
Angels, swell the glad triumphant strain!
Tell the joyful tidings, bear it far away!
For a precious soul is born again.
Chorus:
Glory! Glory! How the angels sing;Glory!
Glory! How the loud harps ring!
'Tis the ransomed army, like a mighty sea,
Pealing forth the anthem of the free.
Thought for Today:
Let those redeemed by Adonai say it,
those he redeemed from the power of the foe.(Psalm 107:2).
Please pray:
That many people in Cuba will come to know Yeshua the Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKodesh.
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