The beloved physician Luke wrote about Jesus, “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receives sinners, and eats with them. And he spoke this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, does not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost”, and in chapter fifteen and verse ten of his book Luke wrote how Jesus said, “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents” where we read:
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents.
The verse reads, “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God ...” Luke began with the words, “Likewise, I say unto you” or “in the same manner and likeness, I, Jesus, utter, declare and proclaim to the people listening to Him”, “there is joy in the presence” which means “there exists joyful gladness, cheerfulness and exceeding delight in front of and before all”, “of the angels of God” or “pertaining to the messengers and envoys of the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Luke shared how Jesus said there would be “rejoicing” in “Heaven” before God's “angels” in the same way the woman with the lost piece of silver's friends celebrated with her.
The verse continues, “... over one sinner that repents.” Luke added the words, “over one sinner” or “upon a single person who is devoted to sin, pre-eminently sinful, especially wicked and heathen” “that repents” which means “who changes their mind for better and heartily amends with abhorrence their past sins”. Luke shared how Jesus added the “repentance” of a “single sinner” as the reason there is “rejoicing” in Heaven.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn what Jesus said occurs before God's “angels” every time a “single sinner” turns from their sins and believes and trusts in His Son Jesus. In the same manner as the woman who brought together her friends and neighbors to celebrate, God assembles His “messengers and envoys” to “celebrate” with Him. Everyone who yields their life to Jesus will be “celebrated” in Heaven, and those who submit to Him will find “rejoicing” before the “angels of God” for their submission to Him.
Next time Luke shares how Jesus says, “a certain man had two sons”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
No comments:
Post a Comment