Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: Luke 15 and Psalm 31

⁸ ‘Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.” ¹⁰ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’

I’m sure you can imagine the feeling the woman in Jesus’ parable felt. It’s that gut-wrenching emotion that sweeps over you when you misplace your wallet (or mobile phone) containing all your bank cards. Perhaps your ID and drivers’ licence is tucked in there too. The quest to find it and have it back safely becomes all-consuming. If it takes too long and you simply have to attend to something else, the nagging discomfort and concern is never far from your mind.

This, says Jesus, is how God feels when His beloved children wander off into a life of sin. He loves us and we never cease to be His beloved, even when we choose to rebel. His heart aches for us and He works tirelessly to draw us back to Himself.

When the woman in the parable finds her coin – and when we find our lost wallet or phone – the relief and joy is spectacular. You know that feeling too! Just so, says Jesus, when a lost sinner returns through repentance God’s heart bursts with joy and all of heaven rejoices with Him.

Life application: Marvel that God loves and longs for you this much. When you meet someone who appears very far from God, remind yourself that God loves and longs for them just as much. Seek to be an instrument of God’s grace to draw them home with loving-kindness.