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The Life of the Party


This past Sabbath I preached a message from Luke 15:17-32 called The Life of the Party.  In the story of the lost son we see a picture of a God who is the life of the party.  It was the father who was ready to celebrate, not the sons.  We see how God celebrates. He is extravagant. He brings out the best. He kills the fattened calf.  And we see what God celebrates. The father says to the older son, “It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.”  God celebrates transformed life!  We have the opportunity to join the festivities of a God who extravagantly celebrates life!


Here’s what I forgot to say….

Extravagance is impractical. 

I spent a year teaching at Nile Union Academy in Cairo, Egypt.  Among the many cultural differences that amazed me was their excessive hospitality.  I didn’t need continuous refills of tea. And it would have been more temperate of me to not eat every mystery meat and foreign dish that was brought to me.  It was unnatural for me to accept their generous gifts when visiting their simple homes.  But they just kept giving.

I visited Guatemala during Easter, or Semana Santa (Holy Week).  Their festivities are far more extravagant than colored eggs and pastel candies. They carpet their streets with colorful patterns made of flowers, sand, wood shavings, and fruit. There are musical parades in full costume. There are groups of young people carrying around stuffed representations of Judas. It is a week of excessive celebration.

I have seen people in my church spend days in preparation for special meals, like the Thanksgiving feast we had at the church a few weeks ago.  The food was not just tasty, it was attractive.  And there was way more than we could eat.  The tables were thoughtfully decorated. And the kids were given seasonally themed coloring activities. 

Decorations are not necessary. Art and parades are not efficient activities. I would survive just fine without being served tea.   All of this extravagance is impractical… and it flows right from the heart of God!  Extravagance is not a requirement; it is a desire.  God does not throw a party because it is something that must be done but because there is great joy to be experienced. He is the life of the party.  Join in the festivities of a God who extravagantly celebrates life! 

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