The Lost Coin
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:8-10)
Consider for a moment losing something extremely valuable to you. Would you not search high and low until finding it–giving yourself no rest or having no peace of mind until it was discovered? Recounting every step you took when you knew it was in your possession? Perhaps recalling to mind with fondness and joy the past when everything was in its “proper place”? Constantly reminding yourself of where you could have possibly placed this cherished item? This is the illustration Jesus gives of a Father full of compassion and love toward His wayward child. It is a glorious picture of our heavenly “Daddy” and His angels welcoming a wayward child. Our Father is full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger, and abounding in great love. He does not treat us as our sins deserve but desires for us to be in constant fellowship and relationship with Him. When we are in sin, that relationship is broken.
Scripture confirms God’s great love for us:
The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3)
I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them. (Hosea 11:4)
They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them. (Nehemiah 9:17)
Matthew Henry explains this parable in this way:
“That which is lost is a piece of silver. The soul is silver, of intrinsic worth and value; not base metal, as iron or lead, but silver. It is a silver coin. It is stamped with God’s portrait and superscription. This silver was lost in the dirt; a soul plunged in the world is like a piece of money in the dirt; anyone would say, ‘It is a thousand pities that it should lie there.’”
Take It to Heart
“God loves us not because of who we are, but because of who He is.” (Anonymous)
“I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.”
(John Newton)
“We forget that God is a specialist; He is well able to work our failures into His plans.” (Erwin Lutzer)
I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. (Psalm 116:1-2)