WHEN GOD REJOICES

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will REJOICE over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing – Zephaniah 3:17

Can you imagine GOD dancing and rejoicing with singing over you? Many people do not have this picture of God. Instead, they imagine God sitting on the throne with His arms folded in anger, saying, “You are damned! Didn’t I warn you when you headed out? Look at the mess you have made of your life and the reproach you have brought to the family name.” That is not the heart of God. On the contrary, whenever a wayward child returns home, the Father’s arms of mercy reach out. He runs toward the repentant soul, saying, “My child, you have finally come home! I have been longing and watching for you!”

As the son began his rehearsed mantra, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son,” the father did not even acknowledge his plea (Lk. 15:21) Instead, he called out, “Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him” (Lk. 15:22). How stunned with joy the son must have been! Great Joy is awaits whoever like the prodigal decides to come home to the Father in submission to His will. Even if you have walked away from God, or if you feel you have failed and made a mess of what He entrusted to you, the Father is inviting you to simply come home to Him: “in HIS PRESENCE is fullness of JOY…” (Psa.16:11).

Picture your heavenly Father taking you to His divine dressing-room, changing your filthy rags of unrighteousness to robes of royalty and purity. Next, the He restores your RING of SONSHIP – the authority, rights, power, and privileges! This ring rolls away condemnation and the ‘reproaches of Egypt’! Then, your feet are shod with SHOES for the Journey of Destiny! Finally you are brought to the father’s banquet table for a lifetime of celebration!

Suddenly the father starts to dance. Only then does the son realize that the father’s Joy is to save, restore and empower the son! This is the Fathers Joy, which then becomes the son’s strength! The Lord says, “…likewise there will be more JOY in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance” (Lk.15:7). Sin leaks joy; but repentance generates joy. Beloved, your salvation is the Father’s Joy; and His Joy is your strength!