-February 26, 2024-
Good morning beloved, happy Monday,
“But his father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this son my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.”
(Luke 15:22-24).
Jesus told the parable of the lost son, familiarly called the prodigal son. It has so many lessons that we can glean for our lives today. In Luke chapter 15 Jesus describes three lost things: a sheep, a coin, and a son. We were all lost before Jesus found us and saved us.
There is such joy in heaven and on earth among believers when one sinner repents and gets saved. Jesus said in Luke 15:7, “I say to you that likewise there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” He also said, “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10).
We know that God desires every person to be saved and come to the knowledge of Christ. There is incredible joy when one is saved. See 2 Peter 3:9. It is a miracle of God’s grace when one soul gives his or her life to Christ.
In the story of the prodigal son, the father had joy when his son came home; the son had joy in being restored to his father; the household servants had joy for both of them. The father ordered his servants to throw the biggest party to mark the occasion. He told them to: bring out the best robe to put on his son, a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet. The father lavished his love and favor on him of whom he said was dead but was now alive again; was lost and was now found. They had the greatest meal of a fatted calf and began to be merry.
I love that expression, “begun to be merry.” Once we are saved, the joy has just started and never ends. The joy of the Lord never fades, it never ends. We have joy in our hearts the rest of lives on earth and on into eternity in heaven. The joy of the Lord is our strength.
Let us rejoice in our salvation today and every day of our lives. Have a joyful day. Stay safe and healthy.
Joy doesn’t depend on our circumstances but on our relationship to Jesus,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 