What Gives God Joy

Then Jesus told them this parable: ‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” 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 people who do not need to repent. ‘Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.” In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’ (Luke 15:3-10)

While doing New Testament research about joy this week, I could find no other passage that communicates God’s joy in such stark language. Finding and bringing back lost sinners doesn’t just give him pleasure, there is great rejoicing in heaven with God and the angels! Who do we know who are (like sheep) alone and vulnerable because they have wandered away from God and need to be brought back into community? Who do we know who are like lost silver coins, immensely valuable to God and needing a way back? If we want to be part of what gives God great joy, let’s spend our time where he is: with those who need to be found by God so they can enter into the same joy!