I was reading through some scriptures devotionally and caught these two very similar verses just three verses apart!  Wonder if God might be trying to tell us something here?

“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.”  Luke 15:7

“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”  Luke 15:10

Numbers matter to God! Especially the number 1!  One person matters to God and you are that person!  In fact every person is that person and every person that realizes the seriousness of their sin and repents of it causes rejoicing in Heaven.

In our culture, we have become convinced that bigger is better and this is just flat wrong.  The number that God and the angels care about is one.  One more coming out of sin and into grace is reason to rejoice.

I have known ministries and ministers that love to talk about the number of converts.  In fact, I have been guilty myself.  Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with being excited about many people coming to Christ, but a lot talk about the numbers, but never do anything with them.

The work of the church is not just leading folks into relationship, but helping them to grow in that relationship after they get there.  Jesus commanded us to GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES!  Are you excited about “the one”?  Are you excited about being “the one”?  Are you excited about reaching “one” and growing “one” for the “ONE’s” glory?

I am and I hope you will join me, because 1+1 = 2, and 2 X 2 = 4, and 4 X 4 = 16 and 16 X 16 = 256  (You get the idea – right?) – And it all started with ONE – God who created us and shared His One and only Son Jesus!

We’ve got work to do – I hope we can do it together!