Luke 15:8-10
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- How do you picture the woman searching for her money in Luke 15:8-9? What is Jesus' point here? What is the significance of the "ten silver coins"?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- How could these stories affect your relationships with those you know who wander from the faith?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Lost and Found
July 6, 1985, Mick and Tracey tied the knot in their home town in Leeds, England. Some of their wedding photos were shot by a friend, who finished the roll of film (yes, it was before digital cameras) and gave it to Tracey’s cousin, Karen. She stowed it in her handbag and the wedding party adjourned for a reception at a local pub. While the party was in full swing, two men ran out of the pub having stolen the handbag. A short chase ensued but the pair got away and the pictures were lost forever. Except.
That same evening, Angie McHale was walking down a street and saw a discarded handbag. She looked inside, but it was empty but for a single roll of film. With absolutely no information to investigate, Angie thoughtfully paid to have the film developed and stored the snapshots in case she had the chance to return them. They remained in a box for decades. And then in January, when Angie prepared to move, she ran across the mysterious pictures again. Now, though, there is an internet and Angie had a Facebook page where she posted the pictures and asked for help identifying the young couple from 1985. After hundreds of comments, cousin Karen got a message urging her to look at the 35-year-old pics. Sure enough, the missing photos were identified and returned to Mick and Tracey Hepworth, who will celebrate their 35th anniversary this July. From the kindness of a stranger, what was lost was found again and welcomed with great joy.
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not 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 NIV).
As Jesus told the parable, the hearers would nod, smiling, for they knew that the ten silver coins represented her wedding dowry. This was as important then as a diamond engagement ring would be today. If it were lost, the whole house would be turned upside down to find it. The relief and joy at finding the lost article would be very great and worthy of a quick party. And we can sympathize with a couple who thought their recorded memories of one of the most important days of their lives were forever lost—and then, stunningly, found and returned.
Yet it’s important not to overlook Jesus’ point. That kind of joy is almost nothing compared to the heavenly delirium at the repentance and redemption of one—one—human soul. Lost people are not necessarily mean or evil or corrupt; they’re just lost. They don’t know how they got there and they don’t know where they are and they don’t know where they’re going. If they will turn to God and commit themselves to Him in faithful obedience through Jesus Christ, they can head for home where they will be met with a joyous party! They don’t ever have to be lost again and they will always be cherished in a very special way, with their unique homecoming story!
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