The lost coin

In the Gospel of Luke we find a story in which Jesus speaks of what it is like when someone is desperately looking for something that he has lost. It is the tale of the lost coin:
"Or suppose a woman had ten drachmas and would lose one." The drachma was a Greek coin that was about the value of the Roman denarius, or about twenty francs. 'Wouldn't she light a lamp and turn the whole house upside down until she found it? And if she had found this coin, wouldn't she call her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her that she has found her lost coin? In the same way, joy reigns with the angels of God when even a single sinner repents and turns on his way »(Luke 15,8-10 New Life Bible).

Jesus inserted this parable between the parables of the prodigal sheep and the prodigal son. The lost sheep is likely aware that it is lost. It is alone, neither shepherd nor flock is in sight. The prodigal son got lost on purpose. The coin, which is an inanimate object, has no idea that it is lost. I would venture to assume that a great many people fit into the coin category and do not know that they are lost.
A woman has lost a precious coin. The loss of this money is very painful for them. She turns everything upside down to find the coin again.

I confess that I left my phone somewhere and didn't know where it was. It's easy to find a smartphone again. It was clearly not easy for the woman in the parable of Jesus. She had to get a good light and do a thorough search for her precious lost coin.

As the woman lit her candle to bring light to every corner of her home, so the light of Christ pervades our world and finds us wherever we are. It shows the heart and the love and care that God has for us. Just as the woman searched her house, so God will seek and find us.

One side of each coin usually bears the image of the monarch in whose name the coin is issued. We are all coins issued by the kingdom of God. Jesus the King is the picture on the coins and we belong to him. Jesus ended up telling the crowd about the joy in heaven when even one person turns to God.
As important as every single coin is to women, every single one of us is so precious to God. He's happy about our return to him. The narrative is not just about the coin. The parable is about you personally! God loves you very much and he will notice immediately when you move away from him. He searches day and night if need be and does not give up. He really wants you with him. The woman was very happy when she rediscovered her coin. There is even greater joy with God and his angels when you turn to him and when he is allowed to be your friend.

from Hilary Buck