A humbled and open heart are fertile soil for God’s seeds of wisdom. Establishing deeper roots requires analyzing God’s word to discover truths, values, and lessons for application to our lives. Periodically, a scripture or passage calls for further exploration, like Luke 15:8-10, (commonly known as “The Parable of the Lost Coin”).
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8 “Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost!’ 10 I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:8-10
The book of Luke is part of the historical narrative in the bible, most commonly attributed to Luke, a physician and Gentile (not Jewish). The book of Luke is the third of four Gospels in the bible. The Gospels describe the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.
This passage is one of many parables that Jesus Christ used to teach a spiritual lesson.
Have you ever lost something important? The recounting of places it could be. The search. The feeling of finding it again.
Jesus takes a situation we’ve encountered and crafts a story to teach us about the ways of God.
As Chapter 15 begins, Jesus is teaching parables(v.1). Jesus is met with opposition from the Pharisees and scribes because of his association with tax collectors and sinners. He proceeds to share three stories with a common theme of recovering what is lost. Verses 8 through 10 center on a woman who loses one of ten coins. The parable likens the joys of finding the missing coin to the joy of the angels when a sinner repents.
The parable of the lost coin shows that we have access to the salvation through Jesus. We no longer have to be the “lost coin.” We can return to God. He will welcome us and the angels will rejoice.
We are so special in the eyes of God, even in our apologetic state of surrender. Can you imagine that? As you navigate this week, lean into that feeling of being sought after and celebrated when you return to God.
-S.L.E.
