Celebrated

"My son," the father said, "you are always with me,
and everything I have is yours. But we had to cele-
brate and be glad, because this brother of yours was
dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."
Luke 15:31-32  

There's a story about a man who dreamed that he went
to a great palace, and was joyfully greeted at the door;
then he went in, and at each successive room he entered,
he was, each time, even more joyfully received. At last
he entered into the presence of a great monarch and was
there received with great acclamation. It is more than
that with the believer in Christ!

The prodigal son entering the Father's house demon-
strates the nature of our salvation. It is not simply for 
my benefit that I am there, but God has delight in having 
me there...Love delights to have me in its company.

If a Christian's need was the measure of Christ's work, 
human joys would be enough--but when divine love is 
the measure--the Father's house and the joys therein are 
the only thing that will satisfy.

It is the Father's good pleasure that His house should 
be filled, therefore, "We had to celebrate and be glad be-
cause this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; 
he was lost and is found." That is why the reception of 
the believer in Christ is so satisfying and completely full 
of joy. Every believer now has a home there. We are dwell-
ing on the joyful gain which is ours at the finish--what we 
are ultimately saved to.  JB Stoney

Reader, this is such a good word for the New Year. So 
many believe that when God looks at them, He frowns!
Nothing can be further from the truth as is depicted in
the story of the prodigal son. He came home in a bro-
ken state, with nothing to offer. But the Father greeted
him with a banquet and celebrated his home-coming.
The Father was full of joy just in having his son back!