8 "Or 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? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors 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."
Ever lost something extremely valuable to you – even if it was one among ten or even ninety-nine among one hundred? Would you not search high and low until finding it – giving yourself no rest or having no peace of mind until it was discovered? Recounting every step you took when you knew it was in your possession – perhaps recalling to mind with fondness and joy the past when everything was in its “proper place”. Constantly reminding yourself of where you could have possibly placed this cherished gem. This is the exact illustration Jesus gives of a Father full of boundless compassion and love towards His wayward child depicting a glorious picture of our heavenly “Daddy” and His angels welcoming His returning prodigal home. Our Father is full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and abounding in great love. He does not treat us as our sins deserve but desires for us to be in constant fellowship and relationship with Him. When we are in sin, that relationship is broken. What fellowship does light have with darkness? Paul states:
For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? 2 Cor 6:14-15 (NIV)
Scripture confirms these points through the following verses:
3 The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. Jer 31:3 (NIV)
4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them. Hosea 11:4 (NIV)
17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them, Neh 9:17 (NIV)
5 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. 6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation." Ex 34:5-7 (NIV)
6 But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always. Hosea 12:6 (NIV)
Of our verses for today Matthew Henry states:
“That which is lost is a piece of silver. The soul is silver, of intrinsic worth and value; not base metal, as iron or lead, but silver. It is a silver coin. It is stamped with God’s portrait and superscription. This silver was lost in the dirt; a soul plunged in the world is like a piece of money in the dirt; anyone would say, ‘It is a thousand pities that it should lie there.’”
As Proverbs depicts the foolish returning to their evil habits even though disgusting:
11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. Prov 26:11 (NIV)
Peter reiterates in 2 Peter:
22 Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit," and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud." 2 Peter 2:22 (NIV)
6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7 (NIV)
“God loves us not because of who we are, but because of who He is.” Anonymous
“I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.” John Newton
“We forget that God is a specialist; He is well able to work our failures into His plans.” Erwin Lutzer
1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. 2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. Psalms 116:1-2 (NIV)