Does God value me?
David Hyman of Holy Trinity Chatham explores how much God values us as he discusses two parables from Luke 15. In both the searcher (a shepherd, a woman) are doing the searching, and they don't stop until they've found what was missing. Notice that in both instances (lost sheep, coin) the lost object is severely limited in assisting in the search. Sheep are not mensas of the animal world, and a coin is as passive an object as can be. We too rely on God to find us, and thankfully, he gives us his Spirit to encourage us to be found. Praise Him!
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
15 Now zthe tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes agrumbled, saying,b“This man receives sinners and ceats with them.”
3 So he told them this parable: 4 d“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, eif he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine fin the open country, and ggo after the one that is lost, until he finds it?5 And when he has found it, hhe lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for iI have found my sheep that was lost.’7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who jrepents than over ninety-nine krighteous persons who need no repentance.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins,1 if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before lthe angels of God over one sinner who repents.”