Daily devotional · July 16
The Search for One
“Or what woman who has ten silver coins and loses one of them does not light a lamp, sweep her house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors to say, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.””
A woman loses one coin out of ten. She lights a lamp, sweeps the house, and searches carefully until she finds it. Then she calls her neighbors to celebrate. To many listeners, one coin might seem too small to fuss over, yet Jesus uses her persistence to show how God looks at each person. Nobody is lost in the crowd. The coin does nothing to be found; the woman does all the work. So it is with God, who takes the initiative. If you have ever felt overlooked, or as if you were just one among many, this brief parable insists that you are precious enough to be sought. Today, take that in for yourself first. Then think of someone who may feel lost or forgotten, and reach out with a message or invitation that says, I was thinking about you.
Prayer
God who seeks, thank you for finding me. Use me to help someone else feel found.