My wife tends to lose things. Apparently, it runs in the family because they have an infamous story of her brother losing his passport the night before a big missions trip to Brazil. The night before his trip, he went to gather everything together but couldn’t find the most important thing: his passport. His heart sank. They stayed up all night tearing the house apart. The morning of the trip they still couldn’t find it and he had to miss his trip completely. A few days later when folding his laundry, he felt something odd. His jeans pocket had a big hole in them, the passport fell through the hole and into the lining of his jeans. When they patted down his clothes, they couldn’t feel it. However, it curled up when they were washed but was found hours too late.
I’ve never lost a passport (I’ve had it stolen while in an airport in Texas about to go on a missions trip to Mexico, but that’s another story) but I do lose my phone, wallet, or keys almost daily. When I lose something it reminds me of the parable Jesus told in Luke 15:8-10 about the woman who lost a coin. Like Nicole’s family, she searched her entire house until she found what she was looking for. When she finally did find her precious coin she rejoiced with her friends and neighbors.
What I love about this parable is the message He is giving to the Pharisees about his heart. The Pharisees' focus on the law caused them to completely miss God’s heart. Jesus is helping them see that God loves the hurting, sinful, and troubled people. As you invest in the teens, kids, parents and families in your life (even the edgy, angry, struggling, sinful, troubled, or different ones) you are showing them the heart of Christ as he moves toward others with grace.
Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He pursues and finds us, even when we are hiding. When one of us is found and comes to Him, there is great rejoicing in heaven! I am continually amazed at a God who sought me out and delighted when I came to Him. When you lose something, let it be a reminder to you of the fact that God loves us, wants to bring the lost to Himself, and heaven rejoices when that happens!