Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
June 2, 2023
Luke 15:8-10
8 “Or what woman, if she owns ten silver coins and loses one of them, won’t light a lamp and sweep the house, searching her home carefully until she finds it? 9 When she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Celebrate with me because I’ve found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, joy breaks out in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who changes both heart and life.”
Good Morning; Celebrate over one who was lost!
Jesus shared many parables with his disciples and those who followed him. The parable of the lost coin was part of a trilogy with the lost sheep and the lost son. Jesus would often share the same message with different examples or analogies.
John Newman’s passionate hymn, Amazing Grace, contains the message from these three parables. I once was lost, but now I’m found. No matter how many have been gathered into the body of Christ, we must not stop until all have been found.
Think of a time when you’ve lost something important, something irreplaceable. You think about the last time you had it, retrace your steps, fret, and then repeat the process. You cannot rest until you find this lost thing. I remember more than once in my life digging through a bag of dirty trash in search of a lost letter or receipt because the lost item was of value.
Jesus told this parable in response to the Pharisees' complaint that he ate with sinners. Jesus will dig through what others would deem trash in search of a lost soul. Think about those ‘outcasts’ with whom he spent time. In the eyes of the powerful, by earthly standards, how many of us might be considered to lack value or even trash?
After all, we waste time, energy, and money to follow God. If we focused all that wasted time on gaining earthly treasures, we could be ‘rich.’ Matthew 6:19-21 answers this dilemma for us. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Those who seek the lost and serve the Lord are abundantly blessed. Our riches are overflowing.
When we get lost or lose our way, Jesus will search until we are found. When we turn our back on God, God waits with open arms to celebrate our return. When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be. When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory.
Loving God, We thank you for Your blessings. Thank you for seeking us when we lose our way. Even when we make poor choices, You welcome us back. Thank You! In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: I once was lost, but now am found.
What do you treasure? Pastor Liz
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