June 17, 2026
Scripture: Luke chapter 15 (Scriptures listed are NKJV)
Focus: verse 7: “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”
Standing out like a billboard are the words “just persons.” So many people think that because they are basically good people, they have good morals, they go to church, they don’t intentionally set out to harm others, and they endeavor to practice the golden rule (do unto others as you’d have done unto you); but, because of these beliefs about themselves, they don’t think they need to repent for their sins.
We can convince ourselves of anything so long as we don’t *think* we are bad people. The question is, are we living by our own view or God’s view of what it is to be just?
“Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4
“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17
“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:10
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,” Ephesians 2:8
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:26
It can be pride that keeps us from thinking we need repentance. God calls pride an “abomination” and scripture says He “resists the proud.”
“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”1 Peter 5:5
“Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.” Proverbs 16:5
“The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.” Psalms 10:4
“I will punish the world for its evil, And the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, And will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.” Isaiah 13:11
It is not our goodness that gets us into the Kingdom of God. It is our faith and we only get faith through repentance from sin and by believing that God sent His son Jesus into the world to save us from sin. When we invite Jesus to come and live in our hearts, He forgives us our sins…past, present and future. Jesus is the One who makes us “just persons” in God’s eyes.
Lord Jesus — please do not let us deceive ourselves into thinking that we are “just persons” because we believe ourselves to be good people who have good values. Help us to see who we are in the light of who You are. Our goodness pales in comparison to your perfection. It is sin that separates us from You unless we choose to change our minds and to invite You to come and live within us. You paid the price of our sins when You took them upon Yourself on the cross and crucified them with You as You shed Your blood for us all.
Please help us to understand the significance of what You did so that we can be made “just persons” when we open up our hearts to receive You as our Lord and Savior. — Amen
Whispers from God 