A LOST COIN

1. Story of a lost coin.

a) 8“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’ 10In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” (Luke 15:8-10 NLT)

2. What is Jesus saying in this story?

a) Jesus likens the Pharisees to a careless woman who has lost a precious coin (likely one full day’s wage). He continues to describe the good woman (himself) who searches diligently for and finds the lost coin (us).

b) A good woman (Jesus) pays a high price to find the lost (us). Without her sustained effort the coin will be lost forever. This speaks about his costly grace.

c) Mankind is like a lifeless coin, lost and nearly hidden on the floor of a dark room.

d) The lost coin is completely inanimate and yet embodies repentance. Here the total responsibility of the rescue operation rests on the actions of the woman. Thus again repentance equals being found.

3. Prayer focus

a) Pray that we are always found in the presence of God. After all, consider what Jesus has already finished his work on the cross. We can come to our Heavenly Father anytime we want.