December 12, 2025
Daily Devotion:
Luke 15:7
“The Joy of One”
"I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."
Jesus tells three parables back-to-back in Luke 15—the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the Prodigal Son. Each one ends with a celebration when what was lost is found. The lost sheep is brought home with rejoicing, the lost coin is recovered with friends and neighbors celebrating, and the lost son is welcomed with a feast and music.
This verse, Luke 15:7, is the conclusion to the Parable of the Lost Sheep. It translates the simple joy of a shepherd finding a single sheep into a divine, cosmic reality that God cares about the one.
Think about that for a moment. Heaven is the dwelling place of God, the angels, and all the redeemed, pauses its worship and its eternal peace to throw a party for one person who turns back to God. Our repentance is not a private, quiet moment; it’s the spark for a heavenly celebration.
The Paradox of the Ninety-Nine in comparison can be jarring, more joy over one repentant sinner than ninety-nine who don't need to repent. Jesus is not diminishing the faithfulness of the ninety-nine. Instead, he’s highlightingthe immense value of the lost and the eagerness of the Father to forgive. The "ninety-nine righteous" could be seen as those who mistakenly believe they have no need of God's forgiveness, or perhaps those who serve but haveforgotten the joy of salvation. The greatest joy is found in the rescue!
This verse reminds us that no matter how far we’ve strayed, our return is the most important event in the universe to God. Your struggle is met not with condemnation, but with unfathomable, exuberant love.
Let us thank God that our repentance brings Him such great joy and ask Him to show us any area where we need to turn back to Him today, and give us the courage to do so. Ask God to give us the shepherd’s heart that of a burden for the lost and the desire to join in the celebration when a life is redeemed.
Today, walk with the confidence that you are not one of the ninety-nine merely being maintained, but that your soul, whether you are coming back for the first time or simply for the tenth time this month, is the sole focus of God’s redemptive love. Your smallest step toward Him unleashes the greatest joy in heaven.
Pause and Pray specifically for one person you know who is far from God. Ask that they might experience the turning point of repentance, bringing joy to their own heart and a celebration in heaven.
He is waiting to rejoice over you!