“There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents…” Luke 15:7
Jesus came to save, not to condemn, because God loves. That which is loved is rejoiced over.
It has been said that the holiest being, other than God, is the person next to us. Saved or not.
It is easy for us to condemn.
We must to learn how to “Rejoice” over one another — to praise, to exalt, to honor… It nourishes the spirit, banishing discouragement and despondency, changing the spiritual atmosphere in them, in us, and around us.
We cannot rejoice, without celebrating.
Being indifferent to or failing to receive another is a failure to celebrate, to bring life giving actions and words into their lives.
When we refrain from receiving, celebrating or delighting in another, particularly of children, we become ungracious, even to the point of breaking someone’s spirit. Celebration by its very nature excludes judgment or bitterness. It is hard to hold a grievance against someone when we honor and receive them with a joyful and heartfelt welcome.
When we celebrate someone, we declare that we have “Found the gold in them!” Celebrating another person is a sacred act; it can even be considered a priestly task. It is a function that declares value, life and honor — it is the heart of God.
We celebrate when a child is born. We speak life into them. We speak joy or death over them. We perform the prophetic act of declaring a future, something they cannot begin to imagine or understand. Yet, it is hugely significant.
When we rejoice, it is more than a one time event, it is a prophetic act that must be continued until the day we are called home.
Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, prophesied over his new born son;
"And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” Luke 1: 76-79
When we are rejoiced over, we are recognized and valued. Being included, celebrated and valued is a great yearning in each and every one of us.
However, if we are overlooked, particularly as a child, we are easily wounded and may lose the ability to celebrate or be celebrated, to give honor or to receive honor.
When our uniqueness and therefore our significance is not valued, we can feel disqualified, and easily succumb to inadequacy and condemnation. We become takers and not givers of life, unable to celebrate the love of the Father or who He made us to be.
Each and every one of us is born to be celebrated, to have the prophetic act of celebration performed, declared over us.
“But we had to celebrate and be glad…” Luke 15:32
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4
Jesus came to save, not to condemn, because God loves. That which is loved is rejoiced over.
It has been said that the holiest being, other than God, is the person next to us. Saved or not.
It is easy for us to condemn.
We must to learn how to “Rejoice” over one another — to praise, to exalt, to honor… It nourishes the spirit, banishing discouragement and despondency, changing the spiritual atmosphere in them, in us, and around us.
We cannot rejoice, without celebrating.
Being indifferent to or failing to receive another is a failure to celebrate, to bring life giving actions and words into their lives.
When we refrain from receiving, celebrating or delighting in another, particularly of children, we become ungracious, even to the point of breaking someone’s spirit. Celebration by its very nature excludes judgment or bitterness. It is hard to hold a grievance against someone when we honor and receive them with a joyful and heartfelt welcome.
When we celebrate someone, we declare that we have “Found the gold in them!” Celebrating another person is a sacred act; it can even be considered a priestly task. It is a function that declares value, life and honor — it is the heart of God.
We celebrate when a child is born. We speak life into them. We speak joy or death over them. We perform the prophetic act of declaring a future, something they cannot begin to imagine or understand. Yet, it is hugely significant.
When we rejoice, it is more than a one time event, it is a prophetic act that must be continued until the day we are called home.
Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, prophesied over his new born son;
"And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” Luke 1: 76-79
When we are rejoiced over, we are recognized and valued. Being included, celebrated and valued is a great yearning in each and every one of us.
However, if we are overlooked, particularly as a child, we are easily wounded and may lose the ability to celebrate or be celebrated, to give honor or to receive honor.
When our uniqueness and therefore our significance is not valued, we can feel disqualified, and easily succumb to inadequacy and condemnation. We become takers and not givers of life, unable to celebrate the love of the Father or who He made us to be.
Each and every one of us is born to be celebrated, to have the prophetic act of celebration performed, declared over us.
“But we had to celebrate and be glad…” Luke 15:32
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4
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