When Heaven Throws a Party

TJ Addington‘s Weekday Devos Podcast

How much does God care about one human being who does not know Him? Think about one person you know who does not yet know Christ. Keep that special individual in mind as you consider the words of Jesus in The Parable of the Lost Sheep, Luke 15:1-7:

“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

As usual, Jesus was drawing a crowd, and those most interested in His message were tax collectors (a despised bunch) and so-called sinners. The religious leaders, Pharisees, and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Here is the truth: Jesus was never shy of spending time with the riff raff of society, those that others would not dare to be seen with. And unlike the religious leaders who despised these people, Jesus always welcomed them and spent time with them. He didn’t judge but showed His gracious grace. Who doesn’t want to be around someone like that?

Unfortunately, it is possible for us to do the same thing as the religious leaders and teachers of the law. We can send subtle messages to those whose lives are a mess that they need to clean themselves up before we accept them. Many churches are not safe for those whose lives are messy because they feel judged and unaccepted. If someone told their messy story in your church would they get looks with raised eyebrows, or hugs for showing up?

But here is the point of the parable. If a shepherd loses a sheep, he leaves the 99 and goes out on a rescue mission to find and save it. He moves toward the injured and lost, rather than moving away from them as so many Christians are tempted to do. This was Jesus. He didn’t wait until the messed up came to Him, he went to them and showed them His grace. He accepted them and then shared the Good News with them. Without judgement. Without approbation. Just grace. Pure grace.

Why? Because God does not want any to spend their life and eternity without Him. And like the shepherd who finds the lost sheep and calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep,” so in the same way there is a party in heaven when one sinner repents! That is God.

What is our heart for those who are without God? What is our willingness to go out of our way to spend time with them and find ways to share the hope that we have? Are we ashamed to hang out with people who have messy lives and even bad reputations like the tax collectors of Jesus’ day? Seeing people have a chance to say yes to Jesus is our God given ministry. Will we say yes to Jesus so that others can say yes to Him?

Father, I pray today for the individual that came to mind earlier who does not know You. Give me Your heart so that I will be intentional in spending time with them and sharing the hope I have with them. I pray that they will be in heaven with me one day. I want to be there when they throw a party. Amen.