Good News: Let’s get this party started

All around us there are people that many of us regard in low esteem, people that we think will never come to their senses and follow Jesus. Jesus gave three examples, known as parables, about our heavenly Father’s attitude toward people returning to Him.

In the parable of the lost sheep Jesus tells about the man who had 100 sheep and the one that wandered away. The man left the 99 in open country and went after the one that wandered away. When he found it, he put it on his shoulders, a sign of love and closeness, went home, called his friends together and said, “Let’s get this party started!”

In the parable of the lost coin Jesus tells about the woman who had ten silver coins but loses one of them. She then goes about to turning her house upside down to find it, and when she does, she calls her friends together to rejoice with her and says, “Let’s get this party started!”

There is a pattern developing here; something goes missing, there is a search, that which is lost is found, and then there is a celebration. Jesus said, “In the same way there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” And then comes the event that is so widely known that even unbelievers have turned it into a common expression, “The Prodigal Son Returns.” In that awesome event the son who left his father to live a sinful life returns home. And what does the father do? Does he sit and wait for the son to come into his presence and wag his finger in the wayward son’s face and say, “You worthless son, do you think I’m even going to consider taking you back into my good graces? You’re going to have to really prove yourself to me.” No, the father doesn’t wait in the house. When he sees the son from a distance, he is filled with compassion, runs to meet him, throws his arms around him, and kisses him. Then the father says, “Quick, bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet, kill the fattened calf, and let’s get this party started because this son of mine was dead and he is alive again; he was lost and now he is found.”

But, as you probably know, there is a killjoy lurking around the corner. It’s big brother religion, empty of all compassion and without a clue of what is in his father’s heart. That should never be us. Church is a hospital for sinners. Let’s be praying for prodigals to come home, and when they do, with the heart of our heavenly Father, let’s get this party started!

Ken Staley is the pastor of Faith Church of Pleasant Grove 9:30 a.m. and Harrisville Methodist Church 11 a.m. Both are Global Methodist congregations.

You can text Ken at 918-852-9797.