July 31 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 54–56; Romans 3

Priceless Lives in Christ

There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Luke 15:10

READ Luke 15:8–10

Tears streamed down my cheeks during a frantic search for my lost wedding and anniversary rings. After an hour of lifting couch cushions and scouring every nook and cranny of our home, Alan said, “I’m sorry. We’ll replace them.”

“Thanks,” I responded. “But their sentimental value surpasses their material worth. They’re irreplaceable.” Praying, I continued hunting for the jewelry. “Please, God. Help me find them.”

Later, while reaching into the pocket of a sweater worn earlier in the week, I found the priceless jewels. “Thank You, Jesus!” I exclaimed. As my husband and I rejoiced, I slipped on the rings and recalled the parable of the woman who lost a coin (Luke 15:8–10). Like the woman who searched for her lost silver coin, I knew the worth of what had been lost. Neither of us was wrong for wanting to find our valuables. Jesus simply used that story to emphasize His desire to save every person He created. One sinner repenting results in a celebration in heaven.

What a gift it would be to become a person who prays as passionately for others as we pray for lost treasures to be found. What a privilege it is to celebrate when someone repents and surrenders their lives to Christ. If we’ve placed our trust in Jesus, we can be thankful we’ve experienced the joy of being loved by Someone who never gave up because He thought we were worth finding.

By Xochitl Dixon

Whose salvation will you commit to praying for today? Who can you share your testimony with?

Father, thank You for reminding me that every person You create is a priceless life worth saving.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

Jesus’ involvement with the outcasts of society offended the self-righteous Pharisees and the teachers of the law (Matthew 9:10; Luke 7:34; 15:1–2) who saw themselves as the only people deserving of heaven. In response, Jesus taught the three parables found in Luke 15: the lost sheep (vv. 3–7), the lost coin (vv. 8–10), and the lost son (vv. 11–32). All three stories follow a pattern—something is lost, a relentless search is undertaken, and there’s great rejoicing when the lost is found. These paint an unmistakable picture of the persistent and seeking God who relentlessly searches for us until we’re found. In the parable of the lost coin, “ten silver coins” (v. 8) was equivalent to only ten days’ wages for a common laborer, but would constitute a significant portion of the woman’s livelihood, especially if she were poor or a widow. Some scholars suggest the coins were precious because they were part of a dowry, a headband of ten silver coins that signified marital status.