The Savior’s Joy On Their Return

What can I do to bring joy to Jesus? First, I’ve done so by surrendering my life to Him. By making Him my King, my Lord, I bring Him great joy. And Jesus desires that His joy remains in me.

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11)

Understand though at what great lengths Jesus will go to save you if you have not surrendered your life to Him. He told some familiar parables to explain it.

    “Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, ‘This Man receives sinners and eats with them.’ So He spoke this parable to them, saying: ‘What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!” I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!” Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’” (Luke 15:1-10)

Can you imagine heaven having a party over you getting saved? It happens every time! Would to God there be a nonstop celestial celebration for the number of souls coming to Christ! It was Jesus’ mission on earth to see all men come to Him.

    “Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, ‘I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.’ And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.” (Luke 4:42-44)

Jesus’ mission was to preach on the kingdom of God, and He went everywhere and anywhere He could from God’s house to the ghettos, bringing the message of salvation. He was not satisfied with one soul being lost, that is why He defied culture’s wrath and preached to “the tax collectors and the sinners.” They needed to be saved!

Do you?

The parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin are earthly stories with heavenly meanings and the main point of these two parables is the lengths God goes to redeem fallen man. Our old friend Matthew Henry described it this way:

    “The parable of the lost sheep is very applicable to the great work of man’s redemption. The lost sheep represents the sinner as departed from God, and exposed to certain ruin if not brought back to Him, yet not desirous to return. Christ is earnest in bringing sinners home. In the parable of the lost piece of silver; that which is lost, is one piece, of small value compared with the rest. Yet the woman seeks diligently till she finds it. This represents the various means and methods God makes use of to bring lost souls home to Himself, and the Savior’s joy on their return to Him. How careful then should we be that our repentance is unto salvation!”

And that is the question I leave with you. How sure are you of your salvation? Salvation isn’t a feeling; it is fact based on the aletheia truth of the Bible. Salvation comes from confession of our sins and repenting of them. It means we turn from our old life and turn to Christ to be our Lord and Savior. And when we do, we not only bring Jesus joy on our return, but they rejoice in heaven over it!

Why not be the reason for the rejoicing in heaven today?

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

P.S. I will be guest hosting on our local radio show tomorrow (www.wftw.com) from 6am – 8am central time so there will not be a devotional tomorrow morning. The Lord willing, we’ll spend the rest of the week looking at the joy of Jesus’ coming, His resurrection, and His ascension.

If you’re receiving these devotionals for the first time and would like to receive them on a regular basis, please email me at jeffers221@bellsouth.net and use “Please add to Devotional List” as the subject.

    Copyright © 2012 David Jeffers

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