“Suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors 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 15:8-10 NIV84)
This short parable stresses two key points about the life of the Church (the kingdom of God). First, we note the intensity and diligence with which the woman searches for the lost coin. Secondly, we note the rejoicing and celebrating once it is found. So I wrestle with several questions today. Where are those two key components of the kingdom of God in my life and in my church today? Am I willing to turn my world upside-down in order to find the lost? Am I diligently seeking the lost as they come and go through my life? Is this key component visible in the church I lead? How about you? How about your church? When someone does come to Christ these days, where is the fanfare and the celebration? I don’t often see it on this earth with my earthly eyes. But Jesus tells us that those present in the kingdom of God stop and rejoice when a sinner (who was lost) repents (is found) and is brought back to the kingdom of God. This is important work! This is what we are here for. This is why Jesus left us on the planet.
Jesus wants us to never lose sight of the fact that we were all lost but eventually found because of the diligent search of someone who loved and cared enough for us. We can’t allow the business of life, or even the church, to distract us from our primary task. God causes the lost to ebb and flow through our lives so that we might be used to touch (find) them. We need to have our spiritual eyes open to see the opportunities that the Lord is laying before us. We need to fervently seek and find the lost among us. Once found, we introduce them to Jesus and He does the rest of the work. The Holy Spirit will work through our words and actions to touch, heal, redeem and save. What’s left for us to do? REJOICE! Stop long enough to recognize that in the busyness of this worldly existence divine acts are occurring. The lost are being found and the dead are being born again. Let’s take time to rejoice and celebrate with the members of the kingdom of God in heaven.
Today, let’s diligently seek and find for the kingdom of God!
Peace!
Pastor Tom
www.firmlyrooted.church
