And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.” In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’
Luke 15:9-10 NIVUK
So we see that we are valuable and sought after – not like we are being prosecuted, but like we are being valued and cleaned up for His glory.
Lastly, we see a truth so precious that it is beyond all value.
God celebrates us:
And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.” In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’
Luke 15:9-10 NIVUK
This is the precise opposite of what the other Jewish rabbis taught. They said:
‘There will be joy in heaven over one sinner who is obliterated before God.’
Their teaching was warped by revenge and hatred. Jesus’ was entirely different.
Jesus’ words echo an obscure, but deeply moving, text from the book of Zephaniah – a prophecy about the Exile and how Judah’s sin will lead to their destruction. But amidst the pain and violence, we find these words:
On that day they will say to Jerusalem, ‘Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.’
Zephaniah 3:16-17 NIVUK
Joyous, beautiful words, written to a sinful nation determined to turn its back on God, but promising a wonderful expression of God’s love towards them if, and only if, they repent.
Jesus’ words are equally as beautiful, equally as joyous, equally as thrilling.
Equally as moving.
This woman calls her neighbours to rejoice with her. Why?
Because she has found something.
What has she found?
The coin she lost. The coin from her bridal headdress or necklace. The coin that, had it remained missing, could have cost her everything.
But she doesn’t care about that now.
Her reputation could take a hit. People could gossip about her and say, ‘Did you hear how careless she was with her coin?’
She doesn’t care about that now either.
All that matters to her now is that the coin is found. And that is why she rejoices.
Jesus says this is what happens in heaven when a sinner repents. The fact of what went before – the fact that we were lost – matters not one jot.
What matters is that now we are found.
And the picture here is so glorious. From a coin once abandoned – potentially lying in a dark, dusty corner of the house – and the despair of a woman who is concerned that her life could be over, to a joyous party, and in heaven no less.
There is nothing positive about being lost.
There is nothing positive about feeling abandoned or neglected. It’s a horrid, dreadful state of affairs.
But being valued? Sought after? Celebrated?
I know which I’d rather have.
Wouldn’t you?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, there are many things in this world that conspire to make me feel more lost, more abandoned, more neglected, more of an outsider. My heart is thrilled that I am valued, sought after and celebrated by you. There is no place I would rather be than found by you. Help me to follow You more closely every day. Amen.
Questions
1. Have you ever felt abandoned, neglected or a forgotten outsider? What made you feel that way? What can you do practically to make sure that doesn’t happen again?
2. You are valued, sought after and celebrated – by none less than God Himself. How does this make you feel?
3. What do you need to clean out of your life to enable you to better follow the God who found you?
Comments