THE PARTY IS THE POINT!
“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.”
Luke 15:22-24 (NLT)
Many of us grew up with a version of Christianity that feels more like a funeral than a festival. We focus so heavily on the repentance part of the story—the sorrow, the mud and the confession—that we overlook where the whole thing is headed. The climax isn't a lecture or self-loathing, it’s a party!
When the father sees his son, he doesn't take him to court. He doesn’t tell everyone in the village how bad his son is. Instead, he honored him (a ring and sandals were often reserved for people of high status). A radical truth is that the heart of the father is fueled by joy. God isn't a judge who can’t wait to shame us; He is a joyful host who has been waiting for an excuse to throw a banquet!
Salvation isn't just about confessing sin (though it does include that). It’s about being fully alive and feeling the joy of the Father. If our faith doesn't eventually lead us to music and dancing, we’ve missed what God is really after. But when we realize that the party is the point, it changes how we view the Christian life and how we feel each day. The only question is whether we are willing to put on the party clothes and join the dance.
APPLICATION: Identify one way you can celebrate God's goodness this week that feels extravagant. Stop treating your faith like a chore and start treating it like an invitation to a feast.
PRAYER: Lord, thank You that the end of my story isn't a pigpen, but a party. Forgive me for being so serious and somber that I forget to celebrate the miracle of salvation and Your love. Teach me how to dance in Your presence and be a person who invites others into the joy of being found. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?