The Joy Over the One
What Excites Heaven Should Motivate the Church
In Luke 15, Jesus tells a powerful story about a shepherd who leaves 99 sheep to find one that was lost. This parable wasn't primarily for the sinners and tax collectors who gathered around Jesus - it was for the religious crowd, the Pharisees and scribes who criticized Him for eating with sinners. The story reveals something profound about heaven's perspective on lost souls and challenges us to examine our own hearts.
The Shepherd's Gentle Response to Finding the Lost
When the shepherd found his lost sheep, he didn't scold it or drag it back with a rope around its neck. Instead, Luke 15:5 tells us "he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing." The burden had become a blessing.
This reveals the heart of our Savior. When we wander off and make poor choices, Jesus doesn't come after us with condemnation and lectures. He comes with gentleness and restoration. The rod and staff mentioned in Psalm 23 do provide correction when needed - God will chasten those He loves - but His primary response is grace that carries what it saves.
We should be thankful every day for God's gentleness and kindness. None of us deserve His mercy, especially when we know His voice and His will yet still choose to go our own way. Yet He continues to pursue us with love and restore us to fellowship with Him.
Why Joy Should Be Shared, Not Hidden
The shepherd didn't keep his joy to himself. Verse 6 says he "calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost." Joy multiplies when testimony is shared.
This raises an important question: Do people see joy in your Christian life? When others face difficulties, do they come to you for prayer and guidance? If not, we need to ask ourselves why. Shouldn't we be a light that helps people in darkness find their way?
The joy of the Lord should be our strength, and when we have genuine joy, it becomes obvious to others. We can't expect people to be attracted to a faith that appears to make us miserable.
Heaven's Perspective on One Lost Soul
Jesus concludes the parable by saying, "I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than the 90 and nine just persons which needed no repentance" (Luke 15:7).
Heaven throws a party when someone gets saved. There's rejoicing in the presence of the angels - not because angels get emotional about conversions, but because Jesus Himself rejoices. When someone accepts Christ, Jesus doesn't sit calmly at the Father's right hand. He gets up and celebrates another soul rescued from hell.
Heaven is never bored with conversions. Every salvation is cause for celebration. If heaven rejoices over what we often ignore, our priorities need serious examination.
Why We Struggle to Reach Others
The parable mentions "99 just persons which need no repentance" - that's us, the saved ones. So why don't we go after the lost like the shepherd did?
Often, it's because we're dealing with unconfessed sin in our own lives. Like Achan in the book of Joshua, who took forbidden items from Jericho and hid them in his tent, we sometimes harbor things we know we shouldn't. When Israel later faced defeat at Ai, it was because of this hidden sin.
We experience great victory in salvation - our "Jericho" moment when the walls came tumbling down. But then we try to handle smaller battles on our own without seeking God's guidance. We take what belongs to God (our time, our priorities, our devotion) and hide it away for ourselves.
The Solution: Getting Up and Getting Right
When Joshua faced defeat, God didn't tell him to pray harder or try different tactics. He said, "Get up. There's sin in the camp. Sanctify yourselves." The solution wasn't asking God to remove the desire to sin, but to give God what rightfully belongs to Him.
We can't live the Christian life in our own strength any more than we could save ourselves. We need Jesus just as much for daily living as we did for salvation. This means giving Him the first and best of our time, energy, and devotion - not the leftovers after we've exhausted ourselves with everything else.
Life Application
The challenge is simple but profound: identify one person who doesn't know Jesus Christ as their Savior. Take that person's name before the throne of grace with intentional, focused prayer. Don't just add them to a general prayer list - make them your burden.
Do you really believe Jesus can save them? Then pray for them with faith, and put works to that faith by asking God to use you to reach them. Start by simply sharing what Jesus has done in your life. Invite them to church. Show them the joy of the Lord through your daily living.
If Jesus would go into the wilderness for one lost sheep, can't we cross the street for one lost soul? Can't we leave our comfort zone for just a moment to share the greatest news ever told?
Questions for reflection:
In Luke 15, Jesus tells a powerful story about a shepherd who leaves 99 sheep to find one that was lost. This parable wasn't primarily for the sinners and tax collectors who gathered around Jesus - it was for the religious crowd, the Pharisees and scribes who criticized Him for eating with sinners. The story reveals something profound about heaven's perspective on lost souls and challenges us to examine our own hearts.
The Shepherd's Gentle Response to Finding the Lost
When the shepherd found his lost sheep, he didn't scold it or drag it back with a rope around its neck. Instead, Luke 15:5 tells us "he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing." The burden had become a blessing.
This reveals the heart of our Savior. When we wander off and make poor choices, Jesus doesn't come after us with condemnation and lectures. He comes with gentleness and restoration. The rod and staff mentioned in Psalm 23 do provide correction when needed - God will chasten those He loves - but His primary response is grace that carries what it saves.
We should be thankful every day for God's gentleness and kindness. None of us deserve His mercy, especially when we know His voice and His will yet still choose to go our own way. Yet He continues to pursue us with love and restore us to fellowship with Him.
Why Joy Should Be Shared, Not Hidden
The shepherd didn't keep his joy to himself. Verse 6 says he "calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost." Joy multiplies when testimony is shared.
This raises an important question: Do people see joy in your Christian life? When others face difficulties, do they come to you for prayer and guidance? If not, we need to ask ourselves why. Shouldn't we be a light that helps people in darkness find their way?
The joy of the Lord should be our strength, and when we have genuine joy, it becomes obvious to others. We can't expect people to be attracted to a faith that appears to make us miserable.
Heaven's Perspective on One Lost Soul
Jesus concludes the parable by saying, "I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than the 90 and nine just persons which needed no repentance" (Luke 15:7).
Heaven throws a party when someone gets saved. There's rejoicing in the presence of the angels - not because angels get emotional about conversions, but because Jesus Himself rejoices. When someone accepts Christ, Jesus doesn't sit calmly at the Father's right hand. He gets up and celebrates another soul rescued from hell.
Heaven is never bored with conversions. Every salvation is cause for celebration. If heaven rejoices over what we often ignore, our priorities need serious examination.
Why We Struggle to Reach Others
The parable mentions "99 just persons which need no repentance" - that's us, the saved ones. So why don't we go after the lost like the shepherd did?
Often, it's because we're dealing with unconfessed sin in our own lives. Like Achan in the book of Joshua, who took forbidden items from Jericho and hid them in his tent, we sometimes harbor things we know we shouldn't. When Israel later faced defeat at Ai, it was because of this hidden sin.
We experience great victory in salvation - our "Jericho" moment when the walls came tumbling down. But then we try to handle smaller battles on our own without seeking God's guidance. We take what belongs to God (our time, our priorities, our devotion) and hide it away for ourselves.
The Solution: Getting Up and Getting Right
When Joshua faced defeat, God didn't tell him to pray harder or try different tactics. He said, "Get up. There's sin in the camp. Sanctify yourselves." The solution wasn't asking God to remove the desire to sin, but to give God what rightfully belongs to Him.
We can't live the Christian life in our own strength any more than we could save ourselves. We need Jesus just as much for daily living as we did for salvation. This means giving Him the first and best of our time, energy, and devotion - not the leftovers after we've exhausted ourselves with everything else.
Life Application
The challenge is simple but profound: identify one person who doesn't know Jesus Christ as their Savior. Take that person's name before the throne of grace with intentional, focused prayer. Don't just add them to a general prayer list - make them your burden.
Do you really believe Jesus can save them? Then pray for them with faith, and put works to that faith by asking God to use you to reach them. Start by simply sharing what Jesus has done in your life. Invite them to church. Show them the joy of the Lord through your daily living.
If Jesus would go into the wilderness for one lost sheep, can't we cross the street for one lost soul? Can't we leave our comfort zone for just a moment to share the greatest news ever told?
Questions for reflection:
- Who is the one person God has placed on your heart who needs to know Jesus?
- What "accursed things" might you be hiding in your life that are hindering your effectiveness for Christ?
- Do others see genuine joy in your Christian walk, or do you appear burdened by your faith?
- When was the last time you celebrated someone's salvation with the same enthusiasm that heaven shows?
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