Rejoice & Celebrate

I was reading Luke 15:1-32 yesterday, and was struck by how many times the words rejoice and celebrate are used.

This section of Scripture contains the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost coin, and the parable of the prodigal son. In 32 verses the word rejoice is used 4 times, and the word celebrate is used 3 times.

I was struck again by God's concern for those who do not yet follow him. And I was amazed by how much rejoicing and celebrating goes on in heaven when one person decides to follow Jesus.

I love how Brennan Manning describes the scene of the prodigal son and father. (Verse 20) But while he was a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with love for him; he ran to his son and threw his arms around him. He couldn't stop hugging and kissing him!