The Lost Coin

 "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one." Luke 15:8 NIV

In the Parable of the Lost Coin, a woman loses one of her ten coins.  She searches diligently and finds it and then invites her friends to share in her joy of recovery. Jesus is comparing lost people to coins.  A coin, even if it is lost, does not lose its value.  A dime that is lost is still worth ten cents.  However, one cannot use it for anything productive until it is found.  So it is with people.  A person always has worth as a soul that God created in his image, but if that soul is "lost" then it is not useful in building the church.  When someone becomes a Christian, all heaven rejoices in their salvation and restoration to God, not only for the individual but also for the larger impact that the person will have in the Kingdom of God and in the world.  Christianity is never just about the individual.  It is always about the community of believers and the world as well.

Thank you, Lord that we get to share in the celebration of found people.  You remind us that all people are made in your image but that we also have free choice to follow you or not. Let us be diligent in helping with the search for lost souls.