Day 17 – Lost And Found!!

“…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?” Luke 15:8

One of my sons lost something very important to him – his key to his locker.  In that locker was all of his text books for all of his classes.   The night before school, he came to us all stressed out and worried that he wouldn’t find it.  We reassured him that in the morning we would find it together; and so bright and early the next day we got up and searched the house for his missing key.  We searched the basement level and then we came up to the main level and searched.  Finally, in his room, on the floor amongst the cluttered mess of scattered clothing and other knick-knacks we found his lost key.  He was relieved and ready to begin his day with more promise, because what was once lost was now found!

This reminded me of another story. A story that Jesus told.  It was about a woman who had lost one of her ten silver coins.  This may have been all that she owned in the world, and losing just one of those coins would have been devastating to her.  So she tears her house apart looking for this lost coin until she finds it.  Then she calls her neighbors together to celebrate with her.  Jesus told this tale to illustrate just how important every person on this earth is to Him.  He doesn’t want to lose anyone along the way.  In fact, just before this story Jesus told another story – the parable of the lost sheep, and at the very end of that story He said, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

Imagine that!  Heaven rejoices when the lost is found!
Perhaps that gives us a glimpse as to how important it is to love people around us.
You never know what has happened or is going on in their lives.  Perhaps such a person will cross your path today.   Can you be the very hands and feet of Christ?  Will listen to the Holy Spirit’s promptings as all of Heaven anxiously waits for that one lost soul to be found again?  All it takes is our willingness to say “yes” to the Holy Spirit and bring hope to that poor soul.

So, how about it, will you help with the lost and found today?

Prayer:  Dear Lord, help me to see the people around me today.  May the words I choose to say be a blessing and not a curse to those I meet.  Help me to show Christ’s love with words and actions!  And if you prompt me to talk to someone, give me the words to speak.  Thank you for this blessing and promise of a new day!  In your name I pray all of these things.  -Amen!