Luke 15:7-24
7 “...there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. ...
10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
... the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
God is more intense than we can imagine.
Jeremy Taylor wrote, "God threatens terrible things if we will not be happy." In fact, He threatens eternal torment if we will not lay down our rebellion and enter into "the joy of our Master." His jealousy and wrath are terrible and frightening to meditate on. (Psalm 90:11)
But we must not allow our view of God's intensity to lean in one direction. The intensity of His wrath against rebellion is perfectly balanced with His exultant jubilant buoyant joy when the rebel lays down his arms and comes home. There is joy in the presence of the angels of God every time a sinner repents. Throw away your sermon-illustration idea about "angels dancing". The angels aren't the ones who Jesus said rejoice - it's the Father who rejoices!
If you know there's something between you and God, then don't beat yourself up about it! Sincerely admit you've been sinning, ask Him for forgiveness, and then make a plan to stop it for good. The moment you sincerely repent, on the authority of the Bible, God is shouting for joy over you!
If you still need more convincing, here are just a few more scriptures on God's delight in repentant people: Psalm 51:17; John 6:37; Matthew 5:3-4; Micah 7:18
