Join the party
Friday, October 9
Join the party
When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep. Luke 15:6
Sometimes I wonder where the image of God being an angry ruthless ruler, always pointing a finger came from. It’s a picture of God that many live with, yet we do not find it in the Bible. I believe Satan has been working hard to give humankind a wrong understanding of God and prevent people from having a good relationship with Him. Let’s try and set the record straight – God is far from grumpy. In fact, let’s look at Scripture to see if God is grumpy all the time, or if the truth is He enjoys a good time.
Consider the parables written in Luke 15. Most people know the story of the Prodigal son. It’s part of a trilogy of stories where someone or something gets lost by the owner and is found again. The stories all end the same way. Something precious gets lost and then the owner (or father) rejoices and throws a big party, inviting all the neighbors. Jesus told these stories to help the critical Pharisees understand a bit more what God is really like. God is not pointing His finger at the son, showing him his wrongs. God does not say ‘I told you so’, just forget about the lost coin. God is not angry when the sheep goes lost. No! God rejoices and throws a party. Does that sound like a grumpy old man to you?
Today do not be afraid to come back to God. Reunite with your Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. We invite you to ‘Come see a Man’.
In Matthew 22:1-14, Jesus shared how the Kingdom of God is like a king preparing a wedding feast for His son. Invitations are being extended far and wide, as what God is looking for is a full complement of guests to celebrate with. I can’t think of any celebration more exuberant than a wedding. And have you ever looked at the faces of the father of the bride and the groom on a wedding day? They are beaming, showing their feelings of joy and pride, and their desire to be more generous than they ever were in their entire life.
I have never heard of any God besides ours who regularly calls His people to have joyful celebrations, a God who tells His people to stop all their work and spend time together as families in extended times of celebration. Won’t you come and join in the celebration.
Prayer for today: Loving Father in heaven, though we do not live lives of dissipation, we recognize that You are not a grumpy person and we are sorry if we have seen You as such. Father, my prayer is that many will return to You and partake in the celebration of this joyous homecoming. In Jesus’ name, Amen.