30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 15 1-7 To seek and to save the lost - part I The lost sheep 10 Our joy is complete in Christ
📖 Luke 15:1-7
01Feb2020 - *Our joy is complete in Christ* - _Luke 15:1-7_ - Bible reading: _John 15:10-11_
_Luke 15:4-5 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? (5) And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing._
We have titled the 15th chapter of Luke as *To seek and to save the lost*. This is the heart of God and this is how our heart needs to be too. The Lord was deeply concerned for the Pharisees and the Scribes for they were not in tune with the heart of God, which is to seek and the save the lost. He is God, who seeks us, finds us and carries us.
Yesterday, we saw how the Lord is afflicted with us in our affliction and there, in the affliction, He blesses us with His grace. His grace is sufficient for us to enjoy the power of Christ, which rests on us, and for us to say, when I am weak then I am strong.
We now come to the third thought that emerges in the fifth verse, which is, God rejoices over us. He seeks and finds us, He carries us, and then He rejoices over us.
The Lord longs for us to have our joy complete in Him. People are searching for joy and fulfilment in life. They are searching and attempting several measures to find joy but there is always a lack, a deficit, which they are not able to fill. Man knows about returning to God, but to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus, seems too simplistic and illogical.
The answer is that we can only find joy and completeness, when we live in a surrendered and submitted relationship to Jesus. _John 15:10-11 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. (11) "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full._
When the prodigal son returned home, back to the authority of the father, the father’s response was that it is right for us to rejoice. Man returning back to be surrendered to Christ, is a time for rejoicing. _Luke 15:32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.' "_
God does not want anyone to be lost and to face His wrath. When man rejects Jesus, there will be consequences. God is not wanting anyone to face those consequence but desires for everyman to be complete in His joy. _Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?' II Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance._
God is like a mother, who comforts her little child in her arms. _Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."_
Will we not be complete in His joy?
*Thought to ponder*
```Unless we are satisfied and complete in His joy, we have no message to share to a world searching for joy and completeness.```