Joy in heaven

Sunday service, Dietmar Joosten, 04 Nov 2018

Luke 15:8-10

8 Or what woman, having ten bits of silver, if one bit has gone from her hands, will not get a light, and go through her house, searching with care till she sees it?

9 And when she has it again, she gets her friends and neighbours together, saying, Be glad with me, for I have got back the bit of silver which had gone from me.

10 Even so, I say to you, There is joy among the angels of God, when one sinner is turned away from his wrongdoing.

When last has God to spoken to you and when He hear His voice, you rejoice greatly. How many times in the past have you sought His help and deliverance, and He has heard you! But what is it like today? Is your heart divided, or still fully trusting in Him?

Jesus spoke the parables in these chapters to those who were criticising Him, but He remained true to His calling. They didn’t see Him as the Christ. They saw a man whom they thought were wrong. But they didn’t see their own sin. Just like today. You might criticise others, yet you don’t see your own faults.
The Lord used these parables to contradict their way of thinking.

He spoke about the lost sheep in one of the parables. It wasn’t the prodigal son, but a sheep that was lost. Yet the Lord seeks that sheep. Remember that you too are loved by the Lord. Are you busy seeking the lost sheep? Not the prodigal son who who ran away from home, but the lost sheep.

In our text the Lord uses a woman who had lost a coin. For women money is important. She most probably hung the money around her neck. This money had the image of the ruler on it. It showed that the money came from him and ultimately belong to him. So too we are not our own but belong to our Creator.
When one coin was lost it was clear that the coins were not compete. And it also shows when your spiritual graces are not compete. When some grace is missing from your life it is clear. When last have you visited God’s servant for communion and advice? Maybe the reason you do not do it is because you know there are things missing spiritually. You cannot walk God’s way alone.

In the last verse we read that Jesus compares it to a sinner that repents, when that lost coin is found. Even though you still have 9 graces left, that one that you have lost is so important that you are a sinner that must repent from that one grace you have lost through sin. You might say it is not so serious but you do not realise that it is worse than you think. If to lose one grace is so serious, what is your state like?

God says, “be Holy for I am Holy” (1Pet 1:16). Jesus said, “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matt 6:33). He also said, “My sheep hear My voice” (John 10:27). Can you humble yourself when you have missed the mark by missing God’s voice?

To whom do you go for advice? Do you receive help there or just hear that which tickles your ear? Do you understand when the Lord Jesus speaks to you? That is why it is so important to attend the coming together of God’s children and read your Bible.

Choirs



German translation
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French translation
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