Have you lost your peace? Your joy? Your rest? Look with us at the Parable of the Lost Coin for 5 steps to find what’s missing.
WHERE ARE MY GOOD GLASSES?
I was reading the ballet program. I wanted to know when the students would perform from my daughter’s class.
So I know I had my glasses on.
But an hour later, my glasses were missing. My real ones. My prescription, progressive glass I paid dearly for. Not my cheap Dollar General reading glasses that I also use daily.
Maybe you misplace your glasses occasionally, too. Or your cell phone goes missing. Or you can’t find your car keys on your way out the door.
When we can’t find something we need, we get stressed.
And even though we may have access to another pair of glasses (thank you, Dollar General!) or someone else’s phone or a spouse’s key, we want our own.
THE LOST COIN
Jesus knows this about us, that we lose things and get anxious about it. And He knew this about the tax collectors and religious scholars of His day, too.
So when His audience began grumbling about His latest choice of dinner companions (“He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends” Luke 15:2), Jesus told them some stories about the lost and found.
Today we’re looking at the story He told about the Lost Coin. (Read it in Luke 15:8-10.)
A woman in His parable has ten silver coins. She loses one. Just one.
But still one. And every one matters.
The coin is a drachma. (See more on Coins that Jesus Used.)
A drachma represented about a day’s wage in ancient Israel. It was valuable, not like dropping a penny down a drain. Oh, well.
This was like a paycheck, one of only ten she had. It made a difference.
5 STEPS TO FIND WHAT’S LOST
What is a day’s wage for you? Would you care if you lost that paycheck on your way home from work? How would you react?
What about if a friendship went missing? Or you floated adrift from a good spiritual habit? Or you lost track of God’s promises and thus lost your hope?
- Notice the Shadow
First, you have to realize something is missing.
Too often we so gradually acclimate to the coming nightfall that we don’t realize it’s dark until we need to see. I didn’t notice my eye glasses were missing at the ballet recital until I needed to read a message on my phone. And I couldn’t see it.
Jesus doesn’t tell us how the woman noticed her missing coin. Maybe she was counting her coins at the end of the day…7, 8, 9…where’s 10?
What wakes you up to your losses?
Perhaps doing a blessing-count at the end of the day will remind you that you’ve neglected a relationship. Or a new pain wakes you up to your need for God’s help. Or discontentment triggers awareness that your attitude has shifted.
Pay attention.
- Turn on the Light
The next thing the woman did was light a lamp. It’s what I did too in the search for my glasses. I turned on my phone light and began looking under my seat. And when the house lights finally came on, I could see even more areas to search.
What light switch do you need to flip?
Perhaps a sister in Christ can provide some illuminating advice. Or falling on your knees in prayer will help you see clearer. Or just spending time in worship will allow you to soak up His light for any dark days ahead.
- Clear out the clutter
When light alone didn’t uncover the silver coin, the woman picked up her broom. When my daughters were younger and looking for a lost toy, I’d tell them, “Use your hands.” Not just your eyes. Dig around to the bottom of the toy box.
Try moving something else out of the way to find your missing thing.
What is cluttering up your life this week? Could not only physical clutter but also spiritual clutter prevent you from finding what is missing?
Grab a broom and sweep your house.
- Keep Going and Going
Jesus said the woman would “seek diligently” until she found her coin. She wouldn’t give up after a quick five-minute search.
Are you as steadfast in your search for missing devotional time or a healthier marriage as you would be for lost money? How persistent are you in your search for missing contentment? Do you quickly give up on hearing from God if you don’t get an immediate answer?
Be diligent in your search.
- Prepare to Celebrate
The woman’s persistence paid off. She found her coin. Jesus said she called people around her afterwards.
Jesus wanted His listeners to see how the story can end: in community, in celebration, in gaiety.
Likewise, when you discover your own missing treasures, are you quick to share in celebrations? Who do you tell? Are you also willing to be the friend or neighbor who rejoices with others when they’ve found something they’ve lost?
GOD’S PARTY
This parable concludes with joy.
“Count on it—that’s the kind of party God’s angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God.” Luke 15:10 (The Message)
When the lost become found, God throws a party.
If you’ve lost something in your life that you need to reclaim—freedom in Christ, peace in stormy weather, love in a relationship—know that even the angels in heaven are rooting for you to find it.
And when you find it, God will crank up the music in celebration.
After searching for my glasses underneath my own row of seats, the row in front of me, and the row behind me, I began asking around, “Have you see any glasses?”
No, no, and no. And I gave up.
I walked to say good-bye to friends six rows in front of us. And that’s when I saw them: my glasses. In the hand of my friend. She said her daughter had found them earlier during intermission and they didn’t know who they belonged to.
They belonged to me.
In the end, my glasses found me.
I was happy. I was grateful for the grace of God, not just in seeing my glasses again (and seeing with my glasses!), but for valuing me, for meeting my needs, for caring about what I care about.
God cares about the things you’ve lost, too. Maybe not all your lost things are retrievable. But for the things that are, be encouraged to keep looking. God is watching over you as you do.
Because the thing He most doesn’t want to lose is . . . you. You are one of His.
And every one matters.
What have you recently lost? How did you find it? Please share in the comments.
Wow, I’m glad you found your glass, and also thankful for this inspiring post!
Thanks, Michele. I’ve lost my glasses a few times, but that time I was sure I’d never see them again. :)
Had to chuckle when I read: “Maybe you misplace your glasses occasionally too.”
That would be an understatement in my case.
Even though I try and keep FOUR pairs of glasses (2 in the house, 1 pair in my purse, 1 in my car) , at any given time I usually only know for sure where one pair is – on my head! Two of the other three could be in their strategic spots. . .or somewhere;) BTW, these are reading glasses from the drug store.
I’m so glad that Jesus never loses us once we are His!!!
Thank you for this helpful post:)
I so relate to you, Katie. :) I started counting up all my glasses yesterday: I have a pair in the bathroom, on my nightstand, on the coffee table (all those are cheap reading glasses), plus my real pair somewhere and old real pairs placed strategically throughout the house (although I can’t really see through them anymore; I need to give them away). I am very grateful for the invention of glasses. And yes, more grateful that Jesus never loses track of us!
Lisa, It is so real and painful when we loose something. We spend so much time and energy looking for it. Thanks for these 5 tips. I loved your last one about God throwing a party and turning up the music when we find or return to something of value.
Yes, I dislike the feelings that accompany loss, too, Theresa. That’s probably one reason I like organization so much; it increases the chances I can find what I’m looking for. Of course some losses are far more serious than others, and can’t be prevented by our own control. Those are the ones that really require us to go deeper in faith and trust.
Ouch! This is a very timely post (for me) – especially when your auto-email comes and finds me (instead of waiting until I want to visit). I’ll have to work through your numbers and work out how not to go wrong next time. I turned on the wrong light and reached for some clutter I’d long ago got rid of. You are writing about how to use a ladder; I have just landed on a snake.
I’m glad this one found you without you even having to look, David. :) Your visual of landing on a snake instead of using a ladder is a strong one. Praying for bright lights for all of us to help us see more clearly and for less clutter to trip us up.
Lisa,
So happy God provided your glasses for you and for how God does celebrate with us and all that is lost and found :-) Wonderful points.
Thanks, Dolly. I wonder if there’s a big pile of “Lost and Found” somewhere, just waiting for us to show up and dig through. No telling what we might discover! :)
I enjoyed this story Lisa. I too have a pair of glasses that I cannot afford to lose. I love your tie in with the lost coin. Beautifully written. Clearing the clutter is key for me. As I sit down to finish my next book, I remove things that have accumulated on my desk but are not needed to complete a my chapter that day. I turn on my LED light say a prayer and ask God for wisdom to help me articulate what He has revealed to me. I’m sure He has as much joy as myself when I complete my writing for that day There is so much wisdom in this article. Thank you for sharing these insights based on Biblical truths, Have a fantastic weekend and may God continue to bless you and yours.
I love how this fits into how you are writing your latest book, Horace. There are so many practical things we can do to help us stay focused, but yes, asking God for wisdom for the right words has to rank as the most important thing. Thank you for sharing this! And may God continue to bless you in your ministry of sharing His words with those of us who need them.
I like that “Use your hands” not just your eyes to looks. Great post, Lisa.
I sometimes want to pass along that advice to my husband, too, when he is searching for something. But I usually restrain from saying it. lol.
Lisa, this is special to me. I lose things, physical things, and then, can hardly do anything else until they are found. Sometimes I do give up and then God leads me to that lost article. I so love the way you wrote this…spelling out each step the woman took and showing me more clearly the details in the Scripture. I often read God’s Word and lose sight of the details. I do not want to do that. I want to know what God is saying to me. On a more personal note, losing Kenneth is HUGE! I truly have lost a rather large chunk of my heart and my world. Yet, God is showing me that He is my husband. So this earthly loss has become a Heavenly discover. This earthly loss is being filled with the Holy Spirit and His angels all around to care for me, to comfort me. This earthly loss is covered by Jesus. As Kenneth said to in his latter days, “I am not leaving you, Linda; I am going on ahead of you.” There is great comfort. So as I mourn I know that I do not need to look for him anywhere on this earth. You words to me on my blog this week blessed me. I have prayed that my words could be a testimony now that I have begun blogging again since Kenneth died. God is using me and I am so grateful, Lisa. I know this comment is far more than I intended to say here, but the words just spilled out.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
Your words are so special, Linda. I have tears in my eyes after reading this, “So this earthly loss has become a Heavenly discover.” Thank you for letting your heart spill out here through your words. They bless me; I know they will bless others. You show us light and hope for the way ahead that we each will walk through when we face loss. Losing and finding are part of the human/divine dance, and you are dancing gracefully through the pain, my sweet friend. Blessings to you.
Love this post, Lisa! You nail the description of how we feel when we lose something. I think it can be so easy when we are distracted by something or someone so that our mind shifts and forgets where we put something. Your illustrations to move this concept beyond things to people and spiritual practices is so on point and true. I especially love how you talk about how as darkness is coming on we may not even realize it is getting dark if it comes slowly. Very nourishing words here, my friend! Thank you!
Thank you, Pam. I remember traveling in the car when our children were young. We’d all be reading books until we would finally realize there was no light left at all to read by. It can sneak up on us. I think God allows grace to sneak up on us, too. Sometimes when we’re not paying attention, we suddenly wake up to notice that He’s been sending it in waves to us all along. We are blessed to be His children.
Excellent lesson and tie in with modern days that are the same as they’ve always been. It’s easy to be anxious and relying solely on our flesh makes it worse. Thanks for the timely reminder!
Some things never change, right? Jesus understands our fleshly nature. So glad He provides a way around it.
This is a great post, Lisa! I love how there is so much wisdom to share from what seems like such a simple story!
Thanks, Lesley. Yes, I love how the parables of Jesus can continue to reach us on many levels, simple or complex!
You have gleaned some great truths from this parable. Pinning this one!
Thanks, Donna. I’m glad these parables never run dry. They continue to give us fresh ideas to apply in our own lives.
Isn’t it amazing what God teaches us through the smallest challenges in our lives, Lisa?! I love this and how you’ve woven it together with the parable of the lost coin. Very inspiring, profound and powerful! I’ll be pinning and tweeting!
Thanks, Beth. Yes, God knows how to use the tiniest of things to show us His freedom and light. Such universal themes of lost and found; every generation, every culture can relate to that. He truly is the wisest of the wise!
This is so good, Lisa! I love how you related this story to not only lost objects, but other things we lose!
Thanks, Anita. I recently stumbled upon a pocketknife that my husband had lost a year ago. It was in a pile of my books; don’t know how that happened! He had already bought a replacement. There’s probably some lesson to be learned in that too. ;-)
These steps really made sense. I loved the last one. It brings home how when we share how God has helped us find what is lost we celebrate His Faithfulness. Thanks for sharing on the #LMMLinkup this past week.
Thanks, Mary. Sometimes we forget that last step. Remembering to celebrate His goodness reminds me of the story of the 10 lepers when only one came back to say thanks. May we be that one.