e-votional
a message to encourage and uplift from College Heights Baptist Church
Wednesday September 24, 2008
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8 “Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 “When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!’ 10 “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” – Luke 15:8-10, (NASB)
From the very beginning, God has been looking for us. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had a perfect relationship with God. He had given them everything. Of an evening, He would come along and walk through the garden with them. They had the best of everything. Then, abusing their freedom, they sinned. When God came to walk with them, they hid. He looked. He called out. He sought them (Genesis 2).
That’s the way God is. He keeps looking. He keeps seeking. In this parable Jesus tells about the lost and found, He tells the story of a woman who has lost a coin. She had ten coins and lost one. Ten percent doesn’t seem like a lot. We usually leave more than that for a tip. For this woman, however, the coin held special value. It was not uncommon for women of this era to receive ten coins as a wedding gift. To lose one would be like a lady today losing her wedding ring. She is out the monetary value and the sentimental value. So what does she do? She cleans like she has never cleaned before. She grabs a light and a broom and gets busy. She sweeps and cleans. Shines a light and cleans some more. She looks everywhere. Then, a glint catches here eye. Over in the corner, she sees it. It’s her coin. Relief floods her heart. Joy drives out despair. What was lost is found. Her set is whole.
She runs from the housing shouting. She is hooping and hollering. Tears stream down her cheeks as she tells the story to her friends. They hug and laugh. They cry together. She shares her joy. That’s how it is when someone comes to Jesus. The lost is found. Joy sweeps the hearts of those invested in the search. The angels sing. A song should flood our souls.
Years ago, I had a music class (everyone can quit laughing now) with Dr. William Reynolds. Dr. Reynolds served as the editor for two different editions of the Baptist Hymnal, and was a renowned hymnologist. In other words, he knew his music. He told our class about a trip he had taken to Russia. He sat in a Russian church and listened to the worship service. Of course, all of it was in Russian and he had no idea what was being said. After the sermon, towards the end of the service, some people had gone to the front of the church. The pastor introduced them to everyone there. Yet, Dr. Reynolds sill had no idea what was going on. Then, the music started. As the organ played, the light went on in Dr. Reynolds head. He knew that song. He knew what it meant. The people who had come forward had just accepted Jesus as their Savior. So, with Russian voices echoing around him, Dr. Reynolds jumped in and joined them. He sang out with gusto, “Ring the bells of heaven, there is joy today, for a soul returning from the wild…glory, glory how the angels sing; glory, glory how the loud harps ring! ‘Tis the ransomed army, like a mighty sea, pealing forth the anthem of the free.” He sang with the Russians. He sang with the angels. He sang because something lost, make that someone, had been found.
We spend a lot of time talking about what we sing. Some people do not like new music. Some do not like old music. Some love hymns, some hate hymns. Some think it’s too loud and some don’t think it’s loud enough. Which is better, drums or organs? All I know is this: maybe we spend too much time worrying about what we sing and not enough time focusing on why we sing. Is there really anything better than singing with the angels? Let’s keeping seeking that which is lost and keep singing when they are found!
Pastor Darrell
