Found

Thank You, Father, for Your guiding hand. Paths all around tempt me but as I heed Your direction, I am saved!
Luke 15:8-10 (<<click here to read the passage)
When I was younger (and not nearly as mature as I am today LOL!) I had a very bad habit of spinning my wedding band on a table or desk. That is a rare occurrence today. Also, on occasion, when my hands swell from a lot of walking, I pull it from my ring finger and place it on my pinkie.
Well on some occasion years ago, when doing something foolish…I lost my wedding band! We searched high and low and never did find it. Because of my irresponsibility, we had to replace it. It has been long enough ago that my replacement is still 14K gold. Many today are just 10K. Needless to say, it was not a happy time in my home.
My Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation says this about today’s passage, “Palestinian women received 10 silver coins as a wedding gift. Besides their monetary value, these coins held sentimental value like that of a wedding ring, and to lose one would be extremely distressing.”
How many wedding rings are there out there? How many coins are there out there? How many people are there out there?
Rings can be replaced. Coins can be replaced. People can…not be replaced.
My study Bible goes on to say, “Each individual is precious to God. He grieves over every loss and rejoices whenever one of his children is found and brought into the Kingdom.”
God loves us! There is not one single person in all of humanity who is expendable. We are valued. We are cherished.

“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 _AMP

He loves us. But in order to “not perish” and have “eternal life”, we have to believe. The Amplified Bible version of verse 10 keeps things running along those lines.

In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents [that is, changes his inner self—his old way of thinking, regrets past sins, lives his life in a way that proves repentance; and seeks God’s purpose for his life].” v10 _AMP

Maybe you have made that decision to repent…and that is wonderful! But what are you doing to help other lost souls find Jesus’ free gift of salvation? Perhaps we would have more joy in our churches if we shared Jesus’ love and concern for the lost, diligently seeking them, and rejoicing when they come to the Savior. _{(Life Application Study Bible NLT)}

Sept 14^th, 2020, Mon, 12:48 pm