In The Same Way, There Is Joy In The Presence Of God's Angels When Even One Sinner Repents
The Parable Of The Lost Son
LUKE 15:8-16
“”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? 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!’ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
”Luke 15:8-16 NKJV
https://www.bible.com/114/luk.15.8-16.nkj
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Like many of us today, this young man, was completely disrespectful to not only his father, but also his Father in heaven, demanding his inheritance like it was owed to him. Then, when his father gave him what he asked, he went of and done his own thing without a thought for his father or his family.
Wasting all his money on wild life, the things of this world, sex, alcohol, and such things, until it had completely gone.
“”But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’ “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”
Luke 15:17-20 NKJV
Despite this young man's disrespect for his father and his sinful attitude, his father, out of pure love, welcomed his son back with open arms.
The father didn't treat his son as a hired hand, he treated him as his loyal son, giving him new clothes, and then celebrating his return with a big feast. (LUKE 15:20-23).
His father didn't consider what his son had done, he was just glad to have him back. Meanwhile, the older brother became angry when he heard his brother was back; he became jealous of his younger brother, that his father was celebrating his return and giving him clothing, shoes, and rings for his fingers.
The older brother told his father, "All these years I've slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing, And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of your comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!”
The other son had allowed the whispers of the devil to bring jealousy and hatred into his heart.
My beloved, the devil knows your weaknesses too, and he is never far away watching, listening, looking for opportunities to devour you (1 PETER 5:8).
Don’t listen to his whispers; don’t be sucked into his hatred, but rather, submit to God, rebuke the devil and he shall flee (JAMES 4:7).
But His father said to him, "Look, death son, you have stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!" (LUKE 15:27-31).
Just like this father loved his son so much that he was prepared to forgive his son anything, our Father wants to forgive us, and when even one comes to repentance, not just our Father, but even the angels rejoice, for another is found and brought back to life.
This fathers selfless love and forgiving heart for his sons brought down heaps of coals upon them which brought them into repentance.
My brethren, shine for Christ by doing good, even to your enemies, for “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the Lord will reward you.”
Proverbs 25:21-22 NKJV
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
