ESOCS Devotional 2 September 2023 – The Joy of Salvation
MEMORY VERSE: “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”. Luke 15:7 NIV
TEXT: LUKE 15:1-10 (KJV)
Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
After the fall of the first Adam, in the Garden of Eden, man lost the place of intimate relationship with God. In the beginning, the man never had a corrupt nature, but by the function of that fellowship with the old serpent, the nature of man became corrupted (See Genesis 3:1-7). Every man, born of a woman inherits that nature by default – King David pointed it out clearly in Psalm 51:5, he said; “Behold, I was shapened in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
This is why when you come in the midst of men, things that are against the standards of Elohim begin to find expression in men, so many things that are not goodly and godly have been taking place and happening amongst men. When you enter into a place today, even in the church of God, you might be surprised that you will begin to see people live and act in a manner that is very wicked and inhumane.
You can see people express passionate hatred towards others, you can see people manufacture lies and accusations against others, you can see people subscribing to and amplifying carnal lifestyles with reckless abandon, and you see people promoting things that have proven themselves to be antichrist. People like this are not on the right track, they are on the path that leads to destruction; this is true, but God has not given up on anyone. He has made provision for salvation (John 3:16) because it is not his desire that anyone would perish.
In our text, we see where Jesus was teaching those who were accusing him of relating with sinners that the essence of the provision of salvation is to the end that all who have fallen will come back to God, for this is one of the things that activate the atmosphere of joy in heaven because Man was originally created to give God pleasure (see Revelation 4:11).
The repentance of one sinner is a powerful treasure and a great advantage to the kingdom of God, the Angels rejoice over it, the host of heaven rejoices over it, believers on earth rejoice over it and the sinners too become filled with joy because they have been saved. As true believers, it is an onus upon us to contribute to that rejoicing in heaven by utilizing every tool at our disposal, to win those who are yet to be saved and those who are lost back to the kingdom of God, and the family of the people of God.
- Do not be like the Pharisees with the ‘holier than thou’ attitude thinking that sinners should not be related with, do not despise sinners rather preach the gospel to the best of your ability and pray for them to repent.
- Oh Lord, I understand that you have created me to be a vessel usable for soul winning, please, empower me and give me the grace to carry out this task effectively.
FURTHER READING: Ezekiel 18:23, Ezekiel 33:11, Luke 5:32
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ESOCS Devotional 2 September 2023
