a lost coin

"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?

Luke 15:8 NIV

(Read Luke 15:8-10)

Jesus parable of the lost coin. A short but significant parable about seeking that which is lost. A short parable about one that repents.

Its not only about repentance, but seeking out those that are in need of repentance. Jesus tells this parable in response to the Pharisees attitude toward Jesus interaction with sinners. The short parable falls in the middle between the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the prodigal son. It is one of three examples that Jesus uses to teach the pharisees the importance of seeking the lost, not turning your back on them. In all three parables Jesus uses examples of what is precious in our sight, property, wealth and children. He uses these to show the preciousness of one soul.

In the parable we're looking at Jesus describe the woman as lighting the house sweeping it completely and searching all over until she finds the coin she lost. When she does find the lost coin she calls everyone she knows to have them share in her joy of finding what she lost.

What Jesus is saying to the religious elite is, do what you see me doing. Let the light of God shine forth from you. Go and search for the lost where they are and let them know you care. When you find those that were lost and they repent, celebrate the fact that you found them.

Just like a coin that is lost, doesn't know its lost most people don't know they are lost either. They need to be enlightened by hearing the gospel. When they have heard it from someone that cares enough to bring it them, they then have the opportunity to repent of their ways.

Jesus knows the value of every soul, do you? After reading the parable do you feel the urgency to search for what is lost? Think of what Jesus says in verse 10, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Don't you want to cause rejoicing in heaven, when the one you shared the gospel with turns again to God?

Lets go out today and do a thorough search for the one that is lost.

© 2012 Leo J. Woodman

come near to God

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James 4:8 NIV

Have you ever wondered why you don't feel close to God? I have. Any time I felt that way, I have discovered that it was me keeping the distance.

James touches on this subject in James 4:8 “come near to God and He will come near to you”. He is basically saying, if you want to have a good relationship with God, work on your side of the relationship. He says this because God is near to us, if we are near to Him. Its never God that backs off in the relationship, its always us. It is our sinful state that needs to be worked on if we want to feel nearer to God again.

Look at what James says in the last half of the verse, “wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded”. He says that there are two things we need to take care of, to fix two problems that we have. We need to wash our hands because we are sinners. In other words we need to repent of our sins, ask forgiveness and wash our hands of the filth we have allowed ourselves to get into. We need to purify our hearts because we are double-minded. We also need to clean up our hearts, and get rid of whatever is sitting in God's place in our hearts. He says its because we are double-minded. We are double-minded because we don't have a singleminded focus on our relationship with God. We are trying to serve two masters, the world and God. We can't do both. Because we, “will be devoted to the one and despise the other”. Luke 16:13

So as always it takes a conscious effort on our part to to feel nearer to God. Today if you are feeling like distance has come between you and God, do what it takes to close that gap.“Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded” and come near to God.

© 2012 Leo J. Woodman