The Lost Coin

When I read the parable about the woman who lost a coin in Luke 15, I immediately think of the window's mite. I don't know why. Maybe it's just because these are two incidents in the New Testament where a woman and a coin are involved. The parable doesn't say this woman was a widow, but since there was no one to help her search the house for the coin, I guess I just assumed she was.

While the one story reminds me of the other, there is one significant difference between the two. The value of the coin.

In the story of the widow's mite the coin was worth about 2 cents. Most people no longer even take the time to pick a penny up these days. In fact, there is talk of discontinueing production of the penny because it costs more to make than it is worth!

In the parable of the lost coin, the woman lost a drachma, which the Bible says is a day's wage. Wikianswers.com says that today the average American makes $105.57 a day. So it's as if this woman lost a hundred dollar bill! I don't know about you, but I would hunt for it until I found it too!

The point here is that what was lost had great value. Yes, the woman, like our heavenly Father, never gives up. But we each have great value in God's sight. He loves us, believes in us, and values us more than we'll ever know. How cool is that?!

Who is the Lost Sheep?

Luke 15:1-7 tells the parable of the Lost Sheep. Some church goers have told me the sheep who wonders away and is lost is one of their own believers. In essence saying we need to close the back door of the church and keep people from leaving our gathering. Go after them if they don't attend for a period of time. Encourage them to return and take back up their place in the fold.

Verse 7 would lead us to think differently. It states that there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who do not need to repent. I believe the key phrase here is "one sinner who repents." A sinner who repents is a new believer in Jesus Christ. They've moved from darkness to light. They have been found, saved, washed in the blood, whatever you want to call it. This phrase is not referring to a believer who is currently attending church and stops coming for awhile. This person is the new Christian that was not in the church prior to his salvation.

Some would say that since the parable refers to the "flock" and a "shepherd" it must be talking about Jesus and his church. But again I would refer back to that key phrase, "one sinner who repents." This parable is not talking about believers, but unbelievers. Also look at verse 2 where the Pharisees were muttering about Jesus welcoming and eating with well-known sinners of the day. Context both at the beginning of the passage and in the conclusion doesn't allow this interpretation.

Every one of us have been created in the image of God. We were all lost at one point or another. Thank God that someone cared enough to come after us and bring us back to our Shepherd. Let's go out and find others who need to return to the fold. The angels will rejoice.

Salt is Good

Luke 14:34 says, "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soild nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out."

There are many things you can lose and yet find again. Most material goods can be replaced. Even those hit hard by hurricanes in the south can replace their homes and belongings eventually. Older people lose their glasses. Young people lose their cell phones. By searching these things can be found again.

On the contrary, there are priceless virtues that can never be found again. A young woman's innocence cannot be restored. Once its lost, it is lost forever. I applaud the Jonas Brothers for taking a stance in waiting to give themselves away in marriage. A reputation cannot be restored. It's value is beyond wealth. Once your reputation is tarnished, dented, or corroded, it cannot be returned to it's former state. Everyone knows.

Guard your reputation carefully. It's the only one you'll ever have. And if you lose it, it cannot be replaced.