The Power of Celebration and Expectation

I have always enjoyed the stories that Jesus tells of lost things being found. Maybe you are familiar with them as well; a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son all being sought after and all being found as read in Luke 15. There is so much that resonates with me in these images the Master Storyteller describes for the Pharisees and teachers of the time. Like the sheep who finds itself separated from the flock wondering how did I get here—been there. Or the coin that doesn’t even know it’s lost—been there.  Then there is the son who willfully gets lost and comes to his senses—been there. But even more than seeing myself in the stories I love the response to each being found—Celebration! The neighbors are called, the fat calf is put on the BBQ and the party starts. There is just something about a good party for a good reason.

Have you noticed we become more of the life of the party depending how much the person or thing at the center of the celebration means to us? This can even be compounded if the journey for the reason for cheering has been a rigorous one. In these stories I’d have to say the ones leading the rejoicing are the shepherd, the woman, and the father who have the most invested. This becomes even more amazing when you get Jesus is the one leading the celebration of us sinners repenting; He is the life of the party. And like the shepherd, woman, and father, Jesus doesn’t celebrate alone. The rejoicing is contagious as we read in verses seven and ten that heaven gets involved in the festivities. I wish I could see these celebrations but am glad in our own way we get to join in this side of heaven. There is just something about a good party for a good reason and I can’t think of better one than the salvation of friends.

Every week it seems like new names are being read from the “book of life” and it so fun to cheer and applaud. I hope we never get tired of this. Recently in Thrive and Fusion we started a celebration wall. It’s a few strings of lights mounted to the wall with the bulbs taken out. The thought was when a student commits their life to Christ they would write their initials on a bulb with the date and screw it into the wall, symbolizing them coming from darkness to the light. We started this wall along with our series we are teaching called Winsome. It comes out of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 where he talks about becoming all things to all people to win some. We wanted not only a visual for celebration but one of expectation that when the Gospel is lived out it has power and Jesus is mighty to save.  Since we have started this wall nine light bulbs have been put in and come to life! Just last Tuesday one of our students named Andrew who has been seeking with us for awhile gave his life to Jesus and put a bulb in the wall. It was such a joy to watch as the leaders, his friends and life group were all cheering and then tell him the party going on in heaven was even bigger. It’s fun and a blessing to have celebration a part of our culture at Salem First Baptist. May the party never end for those being saved.
--Pastor Brian