Luke 15:1-10 (NRSV)
Read Luke 15:1-10 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 15Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. Verse 2And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." Verse 3So he told them this parable: Verse 4"Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? Verse 5When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. Verse 6And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Verse 7Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Verse 8"Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? Verse 9When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' Verse 10Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Devotion
Heaven must be one big party. Jesus says, "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." I would dare to say that every day, on every continent, there is at least one person who repents, turning from the old to embrace the new. The angels must be dance for joy every day.
Why not the church? Maybe we're more like the Pharisees and scribes concerned about who Jesus accepts and forgives, than the angels who dance. May it be so that when we pray, "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven," that not only God's gracious reign, power, peace, and wisdom take over, but joy as well. Every baptism, every confession of sin, every Lord's Supper are opportunities for us to dance for joy. The lost are found. The old is gone! The new has come!
Prayer
Lord, today we join the angels and dance for joy over those who repent. Fill our mouths with laughter, our hearts with joy, and our lips with singing over your goodness and unconditional love.