Does God Really Like Me?预览

You are God’s Party!

People loved being around Jesus.

Sometimes we get the idea that Jesus was somber and serious all the time. We probably get this from pastors and preachers who act that way. 

But wherever Jesus went, a party would break out. Jesus got in trouble because the religious leaders thought He did too much feasting and not enough fasting, too much partying and not enough praying (Luke 7:34).

Why did people love being with Jesus?

Because Jesus is a joy bringer. 

As He encounters those who are unwanted, they experience the joy of acceptance. As He welcomes the wandering, they experience the joy of finding a family. And as Jesus brings healing to the waiting, they experience the joy of being seen and known.

In Luke 15, Jesus tells three stories of lost things being found—a sheep, a coin, and a son. In each parable, there is an unspeakable joy when the lost thing is found. 

When the sheep is found, Jesus says that there will be “joy in heaven over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:7). When the coin is found, Jesus says there is “joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). And when the son returns home, there is a huge party where everyone celebrates and rejoices because the son “was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found” (Luke 15:32).

And why is there joy when the lost thing is found? Because of delight, because of longing, because of love. 

When we wonder if God really likes us, we need to always remember: God is ready to throw a party for us. And when we have faith in Jesus, we find the party has already started. 

Adapted from Does God Really Like Me? Copyright ©2020 by Geoffrey J. D. and Cynthia J. Holsclaw. Used by permission. For more information, please visit www.ivpress.com/does-god-really-like-me.