Jim and Jane experienced the special feeling of being reunited with a long-lost, cherished possession. Several years after their marriage in 1960, Jim lost his wedding band in the waters of Lake George, a family vacation spot. He thought it was gone forever, but in 2015 a vacationer noticed the glint of the shiny gold ring in the lake. After diligently searching for the owner, the woman was able to return the ring to Jim. Jane slipped her husband’s old ring on her finger and “hugged it like a long-lost love.” The two, now in their 70s, were ecstatic to have the ring back!
Luke 15 reminds us that there’s something special about being reunited with a cherished possession. Jesus told the parable of a woman who had saved her small wages and amassed ten silver coins (Luke 15:8). But then she lost one of the coins. So the woman lit an oil lamp and began to carefully sweep her “entire house,” hoping to hear the rattle of the coin. One more swish of the broom, and there it was! She snatched up the treasure, probably hugged it like a long-lost love, called her friends, and threw a party to celebrate the finding of the coin (Luke 15:9).
The point would have been clear to Jesus’ listeners: Sinners, who are thought to be lost, are extremely valuable to God and are worth celebrating when they’re found. As Jesus said, “There is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents” (Luke 15:10).
Like the couple’s lost ring and the woman’s lost coin, those who are far from God are highly valued by Him. Like our heavenly Father, may we be concerned for the lost. May we seek their recovery and restoration by introducing them to Jesus. And when they repent, may we rejoice with all of heaven!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 14:1-14
More:
Read Luke 15:3-7. What does this story have in common with the woman who loses and finds her coin?
Next:
Do you share the same love, empathy, and care for sinners? Why or why not? What will you do to develop your concern for and witness to the lost this week?
Gary Shultz on September 14, 2016 at 3:21 am
Hi Marvin, I often travel so I must rely on my memory, which does not get better with age; however, I think I remember correctly that in a historic setting of the coin, it had much greater significance than a lost piece of money. The similarity between your account is strikingly the same, the woman would often take the price paid for her dowry and have a bracelet, or headband made that held that money, that price was the significance of her worth. To loose on of those coins would be much like the loss of a wedding ring or keepsake that spoke of the value of the person and their relationship. I remember it because it really amped-up the punch of what Jesus was stating and pulls the value in line with the passage. Beyond all of that is the value God is placing on these three linked losses in Ch. 15. Also the idea of the relentless search for an object of value. What a privilege for us to be able to point sinners to the One who seeks their soul, to be allowed to join in the joy of sharing God’s love. I know I must think of my schedule and see where it takes me and to begin to think of who and how I could say a word to show them God’s love. God often places someone in your path you never considered or expected, so I guess we need to be ready and available. Thanks Marvin
gagirllive on September 14, 2016 at 7:07 am
I learned that a while back about the coins too, Gary. It sure does add a greater depth of understanding to it. So glad you brought that out. Loved all your insights today, BWO. 🙂
sandy229 on September 14, 2016 at 11:28 am
Yes, God often does place someone in our path we never considered or expected, so we do need to be ready and available. I pray that I will be able to do this. I know that some people watch our every move to see what we will do next because they know we belong to Christ and they are waiting to point out any mistakes we make. I pray that I will be a blessing to others and be able to show them God’s love by the way I live. Thanks for your insight Gary 🙂
gagirllive on September 14, 2016 at 7:03 am
Marvin, it is incredibly comforting and encouraging to see, as Gary pointed out, the relentless pursuit for what’s lost in these parables in Luke 15. I have a prodigal son, so I have spent lots of time pouring over this particular chapter. How deep the Father’s love for us! He is a seeking God, and He wants us to participate with Him in recovering those who are lost. In the first two parables it was obvious, and written within the text, that the lost items were being diligently sought after. I knew that the lost son parable had to have held the same meaning, being that it is in context with the other two, but I didn’t see it right away. This diligent search for his beloved son was revealed to me in verse 20—“But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion…”. How could he see him a great distance away? Because he was looking for him! Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. Until He comes back again, He is still doing that. In this age of grace, He searches and He has called us to partner with Him by sharing the Good News with those who are lost. I am believing God for the day when I can throw a party for my son. It’s coming. But in the meantime, I’ll keep seeking—seeking God in prayer, seeking ways to express the Father’s heart for him, and seeking opportunities to speak words of life to him and to others who are on their way home. Thank you, Marvin. A blessed day to all.
sandy229 on September 14, 2016 at 10:44 am
Yes GAgirl, in the meantime, we continue to pray for them, seeking God’s guidance.
Shalom
jef on September 14, 2016 at 4:52 pm
Coins don’t have homing instincts but we pray to the Lord of harvest to cause promptings to make him come to himself as the prodigal did.
envirotact on September 14, 2016 at 9:04 am
No sin, corruption, devils in hell, or sinners upon earth can stop the hand of God’s grace when it intends to convert a man.
Charles Spurgeon – Morning and Evening (Sept. 8 evening)
gagirllive on September 14, 2016 at 9:24 am
Amen, envirotact! Is there anything too hard for the LORD?
hsnpoor on September 14, 2016 at 11:03 am
NO! Thank the Lord, NO….
sandy229 on September 14, 2016 at 11:21 am
There is nothing to hard for the Lord!
sandy229 on September 14, 2016 at 9:53 am
This story of loss, repentance, and restoration reveals what is true repentance and the Father’s heart toward it. Repentance involves; realizing the need to turn from the direction we have been following (Luke 15:17), arising to return to the Father’s house to ask forgiveness (vv.20 & 21), and receiving face to face relationship with the Father(vv 22-24). As we genuinely repent and are restored to God, the Kingdom of Heaven is released through us (Matthew 4:17) and revival is released among us. (2 Chr 7:14; Acts 2:38-41). I am eagerly waiting for the day my prodigal returns to God, and I know GAgirl is also waiting for her prodigal to return home. My prayer is that they will return home soon and when that happens, all the angels will be singing and rejoicing forevermore!! Our hearts will be intertwined with the angels, rejoicing evermore!! What a glorious day that will be.
Shalom to everyone here 🙂
hsnpoor on September 14, 2016 at 11:09 am
I am so grateful for this devotion this morning! Gary shared some knowledge I didn’t know and I am very blessed by it because it does add another layer to the understanding of this familiar passage of scripture, especially in light of the story Marvin shared. I know that both GG & Sandy have prodigals, but somehow it took this devotion to get them added to my prayer list, I’m somewhat ashamed to say. Know that I’m praying with blessed assurance that your prodigals will return to take their rightful place in the family of God and I pray you both the blessed peace and assurance that this will indeed happen. God’s blessing on all today!
youssef1777 on September 14, 2016 at 10:17 am
GOD IS ALWAYS NEAR TO ONE WHO SEEK HIM . HE IS WORTH MORE THAN ANY THING . THANK YOU LORD JESUS CHRIST TO DIE FOR ME TO CAST OUT AND FORGIVE ME . I LOVE YOU JESUS CHRIST MY LORD AND SAVIOR . GOD BLESS ALL
Tom Felten on September 14, 2016 at 10:45 am
Marvin, I’m struck by your words: “Those who are far from God are highly valued by Him.” It’s likely all of us have people in our lives who are far from God, those who we pray will receive the gift of salvation that only He can extend. It’s such an encouragement that God desires all to come to Him and receive forgiveness for their sins: 2 Peter 3:9.
sandy229 on September 14, 2016 at 11:23 am
Amen Tom!
minkjh on September 14, 2016 at 2:58 pm
One lost sheep. One lost coin. One lost child. How amazing are the parables of Jesus! Is it any wonder that those sent to arrest him returned empty-handed and remarked ‘no one ever spoke like this man’? (john 7:46) Two thousand years later the worldview of indifference shouts “one out of a hundred and one out of ten, no big loss in either case, and given the actions of that reckless kid, forget about that loser, too”. But our Lord speaks of a totally foreign concept, one that involves tearful perseverance, genuine forgiveness, and unconditional love backed by His guarantee to never leave or forsake us. As we labor in our individual struggles may we continue to demonstrate Jesus’ teaching to a world looking for answers in all the wrong places.
porbeagles4life on September 14, 2016 at 3:23 pm
What a beautiful parable. I’m reminded of how I’ve been saved. I was definitely a lost cause at one point. Not sure I was “chosen” , but I found my way to Jesus.
minkjh on September 14, 2016 at 5:14 pm
Beloved, the answer to your uncertainty is confirmed in Romans 8:29-30 & 10:9-10. The spark for this comes from John 6:44, 65. Nothing is too hard for the Lord!
hsnpoor on September 18, 2016 at 2:23 pm
John 15:16, Eph. 1:3-4, Mt. 22:14, John 6:44, Psalm 3:8, Rom. 9:16. Romans 3:10-11 tells us that no one seeks after God, so you did not just find your way to Jesus. John 14:6 has Jesus telling us that He is the only way to the Father and in John 6:44, Jesus Himself says no one (not some, not a few, not many, but NO ONE) can come to Him unless the Father who sent Him draws them. Please don’t languish in your uncertainty because God wants you to KNOW Him and His plans. Do the work. You will be saved, regardless; but if you do the work, you’ll be blessed. Do the work means to study to show yourself approved, rightly dividing God’s word of truth, that you might not be ashamed, but rather walk boldly and with confidence in your Savior God to give Him the glory due Him! Blessings to you!