Verses 1-10
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God has the greatest joy, and so should we, in new people coming into the kingdom. Even one person is of immeasurable worth to God! Value every individual.
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Do not complain about time with unbelievers. Instead, be joyful about opportunities that you get to be around unbelievers, to influence them towards Christ.
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And always be intentional about seeking new relationships that can lead to more people getting saved!
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Verses 11-32
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Verses 11-13. All of us have squandered the life that God the Father has given us, to sin and to worldly pleasures.
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Verses 14-21. But as soon as we repent, realizing that we are sinners and that we need God, God joyfully receives us! He sees sinners repenting like the dead coming back to life (verses 24, 32)!
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Pray for sinners to repent (2 Timothy 2:25-26)!
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Verses 22-24. When we come to Christ, God does not recall our sins (Jeremiah 31:34). Instead, He lavishes His love upon us with great rejoicing!
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Remember that God does not hold your sins against you and that He loves you more than you can fathom! Learn to rejoice in how much you are loved by Him.
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Verses 25-32. But, those that are self-righteous are discontent and often bitter. They think that they deserve more from God than what they have, and they do not rejoice much (if at all) over new salvations—sinners that repent.
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You can know that you are self-righteous if you are discontent with what you have, and especially if you feel bitter about the joy or excitement you may see in new believers.
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Be careful that, as a believer, you do not become bitter or discontent—as if Christ, the love of the Father, and the whole kingdom of God isn't enough for you.
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Be happy about the love you have from God, and rejoice when people are saved! Celebrate them!
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