In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents. (Luke 15:10, NIV)
The golf community spent quite a bit of time over the last several years in a very unusual state. Golf could be played, but only if we socially distanced and definitely without any fans around. The crowds at professional events were gone. Players talked about how much they missed not playing in front of fans.
Things are better now and hopefully will remain that way. The point is that having the support of others enhances our game. Knowing that someone else cares about what happens to us makes what we do more meaningful.
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God creates and loves us so that we will someday come to love Him in the same way He loves us.
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If you look long enough at the Scriptures, you will find verses like our verse for today—verses that speak to how our lives and the choices we make have an impact well beyond just ourselves. Our decision to trust in Jesus, to be redeemed by His sacrificial love, to be chosen and found by Him causes rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God. Every time a lost sinner is redeemed heaven rejoices. The crowds roar!
We play a very real part in God’s story of redemption. God’s grand plan was to create humans in His image and provide us with a choice to trust and love Him or not. God creates and loves us so that we will someday come to love Him in the same way He loves us. It is not the nature of God to force love, so only those who come back to Him by choice can be a cause for rejoicing in heaven.
Adam and Eve certainly experienced love and face-to-face communion with God in the beginning. That closeness will be ours again if we trust in God’s goodness and love for us. It is not really hard when we look at what He went through to get us to see who He really is. We all live in darkness apart from God, but He has revealed His light to us through Jesus’ life and resurrection. His son died to show us just how far God would go to persuade us to love Him back.
One lost sinner who comes back to God because of Jesus’ sacrifice is cause for celebration in heaven. God rejoices when we enter a relationship with Him rooted in love and respect. Those he made in His image are that important to Him. He will leave the ninety-nine to rescue the one. He calls us by name, redeems us, and we are His. How could we not love Him back? The angels are waiting to rejoice.
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Linda Ballard
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at linksplayers.com.