Father, You have given me grace beyond measure.
Your love is over-flowing and I know am valuable to You.
Help me to seek You above all things, to know You above all others, and to treasure You always!
Series Focus: “Eyes to See and Ears to Hear”
Growing up, the bowling alley was one of my favorite places to hang out. Both of my parents bowled in leagues and every once in a while a schedule conflict would arise and my mom would need to take us kids with her. Our secret quest would begin as soon as she was distracted by her teammates. My sister and I would run off to find coins other poor souls had lost or forgotten in the various vending or arcade machines.
One by one we would stick our hopeful fingers into those silver slots and when we found a coin it was the equivalent of winning the lottery! A quarter was a big win but even a dirty penny was still a treasure to us. Something changes as we grow up doesn’t it? Finding little coins isn’t quite as exciting and those dirty pennies get left on the ground. Let’s look at a parable Jesus taught about a lost coin and see if we can renew our excitement with a fresh perspective of the lost and found.
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she 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)
Why does Jesus tell us this story? For a better understanding let me clarify an important fact. At this time in history, a woman would be given a piece of jewelry with ten silver coins on it. This would generally be the equivalent to a wedding ring in modern times. Most women would wear it as a headdress. This was considered a precious and valuable possession. She would wear it always — even to sleep in. The only time a coin would be taken from it would be in a case of true financial need. Otherwise, the headdress would stay completely intact showing the immense value to the beholder.
If a woman mistakenly lost a coin from her cherished jewelry, she would search high and low, sweeping out every speck of dirt in the house to find it. She would celebrate with her friends when it was found because it held great importance to her. Jesus uses this analogy to repeat the lesson we reviewed a few weeks ago of the lost sheep. The rejoicing in the found coin is similar to the angels of the Lord celebrating when one sinner repents and turns to God!
Have we forgotten the value of our own salvation? Did we receive Jesus as Savior and then, as time passed, not hold our relationship with Him as precious? God never loses sight of how valuable we are to Him — we are the ones who waiver. Just like a dirty penny we leave lying in the dust, sometimes we forget how beloved Jesus is to us. Life with Jesus is the most important treasure we have. We must fight for it, sweep out the dirt that distracts us, and cling to the promises He has given us. We will never be a forgotten treasure to our King. Hallelujah!
Holding Fast to Hope,
Jen
Scripture References: Luke 15:8-10; Luke 15:1-7; Luke 12:8
