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This Week’s Devotional Topic
THE LOST COIN
THE LOST COIN parable found in Luke 15 is rich with meanings for us. Before we dig into the ramifications of this, I’d like to share a personal story.
Have you ever lost, misplaced something that you really valued? No, I’m not talking about losing the TV remote. I mean something really important like your wallet or your cell phone! About ten years ago, my wife and I were blessed with the birth of little Dominik. When he was born, they did not expect him to live long. “Dom” is a precious young soul with special needs. Of course, I pray for him often and shortly after he was born, I received a gray wrist band that shows a ribbon and the words “Prayer…do it for Dom”. Not only has it been a constant reminder for me to pray for him and his family but has allowed me to testify to the love and grace of our God, that Dom is a “miracle” child. I have not taken that wrist band off since I put it on. Then a few weeks ago, I realized that it was gone! It couldn’t have been gone for long. I thoughtfully walked back to every place I was at for the past few days and could not find it. I reached out to family and friends asking them to pray with me about it. And I finally got to the point when I contacted Dom’s parents asking if they still had any of the bracelets. Thank God they did and would send me one. Although I was thankful, it would not have been the same. Then came the morning when during my devotions, I came to the story of the lost coin. I immediately thought of my lost wrist band. And yes, I couldn’t help but sense that God was giving me hope that it would soon be found. And sure enough, just a few hours later, I found it. Hallelujah! And yes, I rejoiced, laughed when I saw where it was and I cried, tears of happiness.
The stories in Luke 15 are not just showing answers to prayer but have a much deeper meaning regarding a loving, gracious God reaching out to lost souls. Now let’s all consider the Parable of the Lost Coin.
Luke 15:8-10 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
There is joy in the presence of the angels, celebration! We should pray for the “lost souls”, those who have not yet believed. Satan wants us to get so caught up in the affairs of this world that we lose focus on what is eternal. When we get a grasp of the reality of what God has done for us then we would be actively looking for opportunities to share that good news, the gospel, with everyone. We interact with people constantly. How many of them do you imagine, have not heard the gospel yet, and if they have heard it, they weren’t ready to respond? Aren’t you happy that someone told you? And because they did, you now have a personal relationship with God and have peace knowing that you will be in heaven for eternity future instead of eternal punishment in hell.
Let’s look a little closer. In the parable of the lost piece of silver she has ten pieces of silver, and out of them loses only one. And that which is lost is a piece of silver. The soul is likened to silver, of intrinsic worth and value. This silver was likely lost in the dirt; just as a person’s soul overwhelmed with the love of the world. She put a lot of work into her search, cleaning house, even into the night. Here is a great deal of care and pains taken in quest of it. The woman lights a candle, to look behind the door, under the table, and in every corner of the house. This is symbolic of how that God makes use of so much to bring lost souls home to himself. Just think back on the circumstances He created in order to show Himself to you. The woman has a great deal of joy for finding of it: “Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost”.
The Parables speaking of those seeking the “kingdom of heaven” include the Pearl of great price found in Matthew 13 is similar to the example of the “Lost Coin” as God would be searching for treasure of great value.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
The next time you find yourself looking for something you misplaced (and this test from the Lord, likely WILL happen), just remember the parable of the Lost Coin. Then compare your efforts to those of the Lord bringing the lost souls to Himself.
Romans 10:13-17 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, how ‘beautiful’ are your feet? As D.L. Moody said “the world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to Him.” He went on to add that “By God’s help, I aim to be that man.”
Let’s be “salt” and “light” to those around us. After all, we have been commissioned!
Mark 16:15,16 And he (Christ) said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
This week’s Scripture:
Luke 15:8-10; Romans 10:13-17; Matthew 13:44-50; Mark 16:15,16 and Luke 19:10
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