Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

March 19
Wednesday


HEAVEN
REJOICES!

READ:
Luke 15:1-10
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Joann had been raised in a Christian home. But when she went to college, she began to question her beliefs and walked away from God. After graduation, she traveled to a number of countries, always looking for happiness but never feeling satisfied. While experiencing some difficulties, she recognized that God was pursuing her and that she needed Him.

From Germany, Joann called her parents in the US and said, "I have given my life to Christ, and he's changing me! I'm sorry for the worry I have caused you." Her parents were so excited that they called her brothers and sisters-in-law to come over immediately. They wanted to tell them the exciting news in person. "Your sister has received christ!" they said, rejoicing through tears.

The woman in Luke 15 who found her lost coin called her friends and neighbors together to rejoice with her (v.9). Jesus told this story, and others about a lost sheep and a lost son, to the religious people of His day to show how He came to earth to pursue lost sinners. When we accept God's gift of salvation, there is rejoicing both on earth and in heaven. Jesus said, "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (v.10). How wonderful that Jesus has reached down to us and heaven rejoices when we respond! __Anne Cetas

````````````````````````I was lost but Jesus found me__``````````````````````````
``````````````````````Found the sheep that went astray,```````````````````````````
`````````````````````Threw His loving arms around me,```````````````````````````
```````````````````Drew me back into His way. __Rowley`````````````````````````
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Angels rejoice when we repent.

****************************Today's Bible Reading __ Luke 15:1-10******************
1 Then all the tax
collectors and the sinners
drew near to Him to hear
Him. 2 And the Pharisees
and scribes complained,
saying, "This Man receives
sinners and eats with them."

3 So He spoke this parable
to them, saying: 4 "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? 5 And when he has
found it, he lays it on his
shoulders, rejoicing. 6 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!' 7 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.

8 "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? 9 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!'

10 Likewise, I say to you,
there is joy in the presence
of the angels of God over
one sinner who repents."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Like Jesus, followers of Christ are to seek the lost. In Luke 15, the
illustrations Jesus used of the lost included a lost sheep, a lost coin,
and a wayward son. When the rebellious repent and turn to God,
their change of heart is celebrated in heaven. The gospel provides
both a diagnosis of the problem of sin and the cure in salvation.