DEVOTION – DAY 169

Luke 15:8-9 “Finding The Lost”

 

Lk.15:8-9 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.”

 

Jesus told a parable of a woman with ten coins and lost one coin. She went to great lengths to search for her lost coin. At that time, homes had no windows and were dark with earthen floors so it would have been hard to find a lost coin. But she managed to locate the lost coin and she rejoiced when she found it. In the same way, there is much rejoicing when someone who is spiritually lost in their sins finds his salvation by repenting of his sins and believing in Jesus as his Lord and Savior. It is not easy for anyone to repent of their sins because the hold of this world, the power of sin and temptation is strong. But God goes to great lengths like the woman looking for her lost coin. God draws spiritually lost people to Him and He will cause circumstances, people and events to draw the lost people to receive His gift of salvation.

 

In the news recently was a man called Guo Gangtang. He lived in Shangdong province. Twenty four years ago, when his son who was 2.5 years old was playing outside their home, he was kidnapped. Guo and his wife were heartbroken. But Guo never gave up. He spent the next 24 years travelling across China looking for his son until he managed to reunite with his son. After his son was kidnapped, he was sold and raised by another family in the neighboring state of Henan. Guo never gave up looking for his lost son until he and his wife were reunited with his missing son recently. This example of the father’s persistent search for his lost son is like the same persistence that God has for those who are spiritually lost. I reflect on my own spiritual journey. God first started giving me the opportunity to know the gospel by sending classmates to tell me about Jesus. Later, in college, God sent others to again share the gospel with me. I am glad God was persistent because when I was working, my boss became a Christian and he started to talk to me about Jesus. My boss’ secretary prayed for me and invited me to her church. I had staff who were Christians and they also prayed for my conversion. Then, God used events and circumstances to bring me to the realization that I needed Jesus and to repent of my sins.

 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for going to extraordinary lengths to save those who are spiritually lost. We are eternally grateful of your mercy and grace to us. Help us to be persistent in our efforts to draw others to the Lord Jesus and to share the gospel so that they too may be saved. In Jesus great name we pray. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. How does your own spiritual conversion mirror how God had persistently drawn you to Him? Share.
  2. How can you help someone in your circle to receive the saving grace of the Lord Jesus? Will you do that?
  3. What does this devotion tell you about God? Share.
  4. Just as the woman in the parable valued her lost coin, God values those who are lost. What about you? Do you share the same view and passion for those who are spiritually lost?