The Greatest Rejoicing
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”
Luke 15:22–24
In his classic book, Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain recounts the decision of Tom, Huckleberry Finn, and another of their friends named Joe to run away and become pirates. The boys are having a wonderful time living on an island in the Mississippi River when they realize that their families and the people in the town believe that they have drowned. Tom gets the idea that they will wait until their funeral before revealing that they are still alive.
At the conclusion of the funeral, the boys file into the back of the church, to the amazement of the people who have gathered to mourn. Twain wrote, “Suddenly the minister shouted at the top of his voice: ‘Praise God from whom all blessings flow—SING!—and put your hearts in it!’ And they did.” The congregation, “Swelled up with a triumphant burst, and...it shook the rafters. As the ‘sold’ congregation trooped out they said they would almost be willing to be made ridiculous again,” if it meant they could sing with such enthusiasm.
There is no joy like the joy of the lost who are found. This is true in the physical world, but it is even more true in the spiritual. The greatest need of every person is salvation, and when that need is met, there is great joy. Jesus said, “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” (Luke 15:7).
Luke 15:22–24
In his classic book, Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain recounts the decision of Tom, Huckleberry Finn, and another of their friends named Joe to run away and become pirates. The boys are having a wonderful time living on an island in the Mississippi River when they realize that their families and the people in the town believe that they have drowned. Tom gets the idea that they will wait until their funeral before revealing that they are still alive.
At the conclusion of the funeral, the boys file into the back of the church, to the amazement of the people who have gathered to mourn. Twain wrote, “Suddenly the minister shouted at the top of his voice: ‘Praise God from whom all blessings flow—SING!—and put your hearts in it!’ And they did.” The congregation, “Swelled up with a triumphant burst, and...it shook the rafters. As the ‘sold’ congregation trooped out they said they would almost be willing to be made ridiculous again,” if it meant they could sing with such enthusiasm.
There is no joy like the joy of the lost who are found. This is true in the physical world, but it is even more true in the spiritual. The greatest need of every person is salvation, and when that need is met, there is great joy. Jesus said, “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” (Luke 15:7).
Today’s Growth Principle:
When we are faithful to witness and the lost are saved, there is great joy in both Heaven and Earth.
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