THE GOD WHO LOVES TO PARTY

It's early in the morning, and I can't sleep.  Isn't it great to finally get some time off in the middle of this busy season....only to find that you can unplug your alarm clock on your nightstand, but can't unplug the internal clock inside you?   

I love the quietness of this morning.  I'm sitting on the floor in the living room.  The candles are lit, filling the room with a myriad of different fragrances.   The Christmas tree is glowing in the dimly lit room.  John Tesh's Christmas CD is playing softly in the background......(very softly.   Just because I'm up doesn't mean that Dawn is ready to get up yet)!    So, I've been sitting here reading my Bible and praying before this day gets going full speed.

And, as He always is faithful to do, God's voice speaks clearly in the stillness of the early morning hours.

I started out in Luke 1 and 2 this morning.  Call me crazy, but it's Christmastime, I do believe.   Go figure.  Then, for some reason, I flipped over to Luke 15.   It's a passage I've read many times.   You remember it.   Jesus gives us three parables back to back in this chapter..... first, a missing sheep, second, a missing coin, and third, the parable of the prodigal son.   Three great messages there.   But God had the Holy Spirit reveal another gem to me that's been right there all the time right under my nose.   

Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in California, wrote a great book recently called "The Purpose Of Christmas".    He claims that the statement the angel of the Lord made to the shepherds on the night Jesus was born holds the key to the three purposes of why we celebrate Christmas.

^10"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

 ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

 ¹²And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 

¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

 ¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

Rick says that the three purposes of Christmas are:  1:Celebration,  2:Salvation, and 3:Reconciliation.   You can see those three right there in Luke 2:10-14.   You don't have to look long and hard to see those three purposes there.   I totally get what Rick is saying here as I read these verses in Luke 2.

But it was Luke 15 that really spoke to me this morning.     Those same three elements are found in the three parables of Jesus in Luke 15.    In all three stories, something was lost, then found, and then celebration broke out.    

Here's where it gets good.   As I thought about the "celebration" aspect, my eyes caught Luke 15:10.   Don't you just love it when God turns the lightbulb on and you see something in a different light?

 (Luke 15:10)  "Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."

To quote the familiar Christmas song.... "Do you hear what I hear?"....(or should I say, "Do you see what I see?")

Maybe you've heard people say that when someone accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior, the angels in heaven throw a party.   I've said that all my life.   But that's not what the Bible says.   According to Luke 15:10, it's not the angels who are dancing and celebrating and whooping it up.   Look at it again......   

"Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."   It's not the angels who are rejoicing here, according to what Luke penned down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.   Looks like to me that it's God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit having a "hallelujah hoedown".    I'm sure the angels see them rejoicing and join in.   Who wouldn't?   But God Himself is the One who gets the party started!

Yes, our God is the God who loves to party.   That night on the hillside in Bethlehem, a party erupted!    In Luke 15, the party is still going on!    All three parables ended in celebration after the salvation and reconciliation had taken place.

So celebrate this Christmas.   Get together with friends and family and have a great time as you we remember and celebrate the birth of the Son of God.   It's a great reason to party.

Just remember whose birthday it is.   Keep that focus in the forefront of your heart and mind.   Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to seek and to save that which was lost.   That's "salvation".     Remember the words of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing?"..... "Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!"   That's "reconciliation".   Isn't that what the angels told the shepherds that night long ago?...... "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."   The world is crying out for peace.   It can only be found in the "Prince of Peace".

And "celebration"? ...... it's a natural by-product of the first two.     It's party time!   Let's get this party started!   And while we're at it, set a few more places at the table and invite some who've never met Jesus to experience the joy first-hand.

He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life of the party!

Merry Christmas!

Selah!