Tuesday was my grandson Liam’s second birthday. He and his mom are staying with us this week, so before I left for the office I was able to wish him “happy birthday.” He had gotten up earlier and was playing in bed with his mom when I entered the room to say good bye. He jumped up and quickly made his way into my arms, smiling the whole time. I couldn’t see my face, but I’m sure my smile was even bigger than his. I sat there for a few minutes, enjoying the moment.

You may never have thought about this before, but I like to imagine that God smiles really big on our birthday as well. After all, He is our Father.

However the birthday that makes God smile is not our biological one…it’s our spiritual birthday.
The day when we’re born again…born into the family of God by placing our personal faith in
Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

The Bible says there is rejoicing in heaven when a sinner is saved (Luke 15:7, 10). If there is joy
in heaven, then our Heavenly Father is taking part in the rejoicing.

Reflect on that for a minute. God felt joy when you got saved.

I wonder how much joy is felt in heaven these days as a result of our sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with people who are lost? How long has it been since you…or your Sunday School class…were used by the Holy Spirit to bring someone to salvation? How long since you were
part of the reason God smiled and there was joy in heaven?

He smiles because you are saved. He also wants to smile because you are a child who is helping other people to also become His children.

Pastor Steve Hogg