I went to one of the best rodeos in the world Saturday, (the Calgary Stampede) in Calgary Alberta. There wasn’t a cloud in the blue sky and it was a beautiful cool crisp day without a sign of our hot Floridian humidity. We had great fun as we watched, barrel racing, bare back bronco riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, and finally bull riding.
The bull riding came last and about midway through it the announcer called out the winning numbers for a cash lottery. $75,000 worth of tickets had been sold and the winner would win half the money, and the rodeo got the other half. Suddenly the guy sitting next to my wife and me started punching his buddy and excitedly gesturing towards his ticket. He had won the lottery!
Others noticed and soon everyone around him was squealing for joy, whistling, and applauding. The applause quickly spread to the crowd at large and he stood up and took a bow and excitedly headed for an usher to collect his grand prize.
I was thinking about the joy of this gentleman and the applause being meted out to him for hitting the jackpot and it reminded me of a verse in the Bible, “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God, over one sinner that repents.” Luke 15:10
Hmmm… What does it say about the worth of a human soul that every angel in heaven would joyfully celebrate over just one person who repents? I would suggest that it makes a statement that God considers each and every soul on this planet to be of such value as to be incalculable.
God and all of the angels of heaven are excited and absolutely delighted about our salvation and we should feel likewise. Today you and I should literally be jumping up and down and grinning from ear to ear in a manner that far exceeds that lucky lottery winner.
We hit the jackpot!
Start out this week knowing that God loves you more than you can imagine. Consider how angels innumerable gleefully shouted for sheer joy when you made the decision to repent and follow Jesus. Yes we have much to be happy about today and every day; Jesus paid a tremendous price for each and every soul and we should cherish His mercy and grace and do some joyful rejoicing of our own, beginning right now. Be joyful and happy and put on that smiley face.
Can’t smile today? Jesus and His glorious angels in heaven are anxiously awaiting your decision at this very moment. Join me and billions of others in repenting and following Jesus instead of the world so you can smile with us; won’t you?
Psalm 68:3
But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.