The parable of the Lost Coin is actually the second in a series of three parables.
SCENE: Jesus is surrounded by tax-gatherers and sinners. They know they are “bad,” yet they press in to hear all that Jesus has to say. Also in attendance are Pharisees and scribes, who are their typical snooty selves, questioning Jesus and his allowing Bad guys to be in his presence.
The first of the three parables Jesus tells in succession is the story of the Lost Sheep; the second is the Lost Coin, followed by the Prodigal Son.
We have a picture of that which is lost: humanity. And we have an illustration of Jesus’ attitude and activities in the midst of derelict humanity.
The sheep is lost through stupidity. The coin is lost through carelessness. The son is lost through deliberate, self-centered pride.
I don’t know about you, but I can see myself in all three parables: I’ve sinned because I’ve done something stupid, I’ve been careless of decisions I’ve made, and then I’ve even willfully known what I was about to do was wrong, wrong, wrong, yet I did it anyway.
Next posting I will tell you about a very special Lost Coin. You won’t want to miss out hearing about it! Check back within the week!
In the meantime, which parable do you most relate to?
A sure-fire recipe for failure to make positive changes in my life is for me to make New Year’s Resolutions. Why is this so? Hmmm, if I could figure it out, then I could fix it!
What if I changed it to New Year’s Intentions? Well, you know about the road to hell being paved with good intentions . . . not going down that road!
But what about New Year’s Possibilities? Now that sounds doable! No pressure to succeed . . . and because it doesn't involve goals, exactly, I can't fail. Possibilities seem intriguing. Kind of like the “what if” game. I could ask myself, “Is it possible to do this, or to change that?” Then if I attempt the possibility and can’t pull it off, I won’t feel like I’ve failed. Rather, I can tell myself, “Well, that didn’t work, so what if I try this?”
Yep, I think I’ll toss New Year’s Resolution making and go with New Year’s Possibilities. The possibilities are endless . . .
It’s 11 am. My office window is wide open. The cool air chills my warm skin after a workout on Wii Fit. I lean back, kick up my feet onto my desk, and grab Stephen King’s On Writing. Immersed in this prolific writer’s memoir, something in the back of my mind niggles me to awareness of the quiet. The stillness draws my attention like a bellowing foghorn. Car and trucks and milk tankers typically rush by at 45 mph this time of morning, but not today.
It’s Labor Day. And few laborers are out an about. I should be working on one project or another, but no. I’m going to rest from my labors and enjoy the peace, the calm, the quiet that will be shattered tomorrow morning by the big yellow kid transporter that rumbles by at 7:26 am, signaling the end of summer and all its fun. Time to get to work.
We think we have life under control. We make plans. We set goals. But sometimes, more times than we’d like, life throws us for a loop.
Typically, these “loops” are not pleasant. Plans fall apart, goals become unrealistic. Sometimes it comes in the form of a call in the middle of the night, telling you a loved one is sick or has died.
I thought I had prepared myself for this eventuality. My folks are aging and they live almost 1,000 miles from me. My only sibling lives in South America. So if our parents need help, I’m the one they call—and that middle-of-the-night call came several days ago.
I immediately set aside my plans and goals, contacted my sister, and hopped a plane to attend to my parents. Sounds easy, yes?
Well, it wasn’t easy, but it was doable. Especially since my sister was able to hop a plane and join me.
But some of life’s loops aren’t so “easy.” Yet most times we can’t avoid them. Some we endure; others we deal with, kicking and screaming the whole way.
My husband and children have supported me through this current loop. My sister’s family has helped her, too. And we sisters lean on and buoy each other. But most important of all, our Lord gives us the grace, strength, and wisdom to walk through the loops that threaten to strangle us and steal our joy.
I count on Him to take me through these difficult times, and He’s always faithful. Though I may encounter sadness and grief, He will never leave my side. He knows firsthand the pains and sorrows of life’s loops; therefore, He is ever-present to take my hand and walk alongside me—even carry me.
What has life thrown your way? How has Jesus comforted you?
How Can I Run a Tight Ship When I’m Surrounded by Loose Cannons? by Kathi Macias is a must-read for every woman, young and old. Macias’s engaging style sails us through her sometimes stormy sea of life in pursuit of becoming a Proverbs 31 woman.
Using humor and honesty, the author bares her soul to her readers as she advances through the stages of her spiritual life. With clarity and insight that comes from one who has been matured by the grace of God, Macias leads us to discover the secret of resting in the character of the Lord and yielding to the Master of the Seas.
How Can I Run a Tight Ship When I’m Surrounded by Loose Cannons? makes an excellent gift for brides-to-be, newlyweds, new mothers, new Christians, or any woman who finds it impossible to become the Proverbs 31 model. This book does not disappoint—it delivers!
