September 4
Jesus tells the parable of the lost coin

Luke 15:8-10

(Harmony 160)

“Or take another illustration: A woman has ten valuable silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and look in every corner of the house and sweep every nook and cranny until she finds it? And then won’t she call in her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her? In the same way there is joy in the presence of the angels of God when one sinner repents.”

Palestinian women received ten silver coins as a wedding gift. Besides their monetary value, these coins held sentimental value like that of a wedding ring, and to lose one would be extremely distressing. Just as a woman would rejoice at finding her lost coin or ring, so the angels would rejoice over a repentant sinner.

Extraordinary Love

We may be able to understand a God who would forgive sinners who come to him for mercy. But a God who tenderly searches for sinners and then joyfully forgives them must possess an extraordinary love! That is what prompted Jesus to come to earth to search for lost people and save them. God has extraordinary love for you. If you feel far from God, don’t despair. He is searching for you. Each individual is precious to God. He grieves over every loss and rejoices whenever one of his children is found and brought into the Kingdom.