The Lost is Found

Luke 15:1, 8-9

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.

Is it not funny, Jesus knows how to talk to people. Christ spoke to these people in a language they would understand. We may not know what they need but God always does. This parable was spoken to the tax collectors who know what it is like to be owed money and not to have it paid or to have taken money unjustly. Jesus came to speak to the tax collectors about the kingdom of God. These people knew what they were without Christ.

'Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn't she 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.'

Is it not funny how you can be lost to man yet found to God. Picture this woman having ten coins. She has no one else to depend on but Jesus there with her. These coins are all she has to live on; however, she loses one of them. She is not hoarding the other nine as some would suggest. She is using them for food, shelter, warmth, and all of life's bare necessities. Without this one coin, she is truly in a difficult position especially as she cannot send her husband to go get her more. Luke 19:13 described the situation as a master who went away and told his servants to "occupy till I come." So, the woman of our story lights a lamp out of desperation and she hunts for the lost coin in faith. With her works she showed her faith according to James 2:18. She uses her last resources to find what she needs. The text does not say she lost the coin in the house or even that where she occupies is her house. So she sweeps the house with a lamp in hand and great fear in her heart because she needs this coin to survive. Matthew 5:15 states that "no one" lights a lamp and "puts it under the bushel basket," but on display so it may "give light to all in the house." Because the woman only has him, God provides for what was lost. God's character is at stake according to Hebrews 11:6 for "he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he" rewards those who "diligently seek him." Now, look at this crazy woman throwing a party in her house for all who knew her struggle because God came through for her again. Just when you think you cannot go on no more, just when you think you cannot go through no more, just when you think you cannot lose no more, God provides even more for your lack. This woman had ten coins, God, a broom, and a lamp; when she is done she has a house, a party, friends, neighbors, and her lost coin found. Just look at the provision of God.