All that God has is ours.

Today’s Scripture: Luke 15:31, NKJV- “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.”

As I read Luke 15 this morning, I was surprised that I did not recall that three well remembered parables are all in this one chapter. Leaving the ninety-nine to go and find the one lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son were all parables of Jesus in Luke 15.

How can one chapter out of one thousand one hundred and eighty-nine chapters in the bible be so impactful? Just one.

I cannot move past this promise of Jesus without being thankful and joyful. Just one. One of us could be that one now. Some of us have been that one. We are told in Luke 15:7 that “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

The visual image Jesus gave in Luke 15:5 of the owner of the one lost sheep joyfully throwing it over his shoulders to return and rejoice with his friends and family over the one that was found is powerful. We can be thankful for those who found us and threw us over their shoulders. If Jesus, who knows heaven, spoke of the angels rejoicing in heaven, we can believe Him and rejoice with them.

As the prodigal son in Luke 15:19, we know we are not worthy to be called children of God. We must come to a point with our heavenly Father that we can say the same words as the prodigal spoke in Luke 15:21, “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’”

Having what God has is not about being worthy but about repentance and grace. Instead of being bitter like the older brother, the Pharisees, and the teachers Jesus was telling these parables to, we can be thankful for the love and grace we have received. Instead of feeling entitled, we can live one day at a time in thanksgiving and joy.

What does God have that is ours? Love, joy, forgiveness, power, glory, and so much more. In the mundane and in the miraculous we can celebrate that our God is with us and all that He has is ours.

Today’s Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for finding me when I am lost. Thank You LORD for opening my eyes when I am blind. Father God, I am thankful to be Your child and I am rejoicing in the knowledge that all that is Yours is mine. Help me to use Your resources today to welcome other sinners into Your welcoming arms so we experience the rejoicing of Your angels. Thank You for forgiving me Father God. We rejoice in being Yours and we pray to find the lost for You. In the name of Jesus Christ we do pray, Amen.