You suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one, does she not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, rejoice with me. I have found my lost coin. In the same way I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Luke 15, verses eight through ten Chuck Layman wanted to offer the perfect marriage proposal to his girlfriend. He took her to a boulder, Colorado, restaurant, put an engagement ring in a box of chocolates, and asked a waiter to deliver it during their meal. Things do not always go smoothly when it comes to matters of the heart, however, and the waiter accidentally delivered the chocolates to the wrong woman, who left with it. Tragic, yes, but do not fret. Love wins in the end. Police used credit cards to track down the unsuspecting woman who gladly returned the ring. She thought it was a costume jewelry being used in some kind of prank. Chuck Layman survived the ordeal, but I think it's safe to assume that he'll never try anything like that again. What a relief when something precious is found after it has been lost. The woman in Jesus'story had lost a silver coin. Maybe that coin was part of her retirement plan. It may have been part of a dowry or a gift from her husband before he died, or money inherited from her father. In any case, it was important to her for either economic or sentimental reasons. When she discovered that the coin was missing, she frantically turned her house upside down searching for it. And she didn't stop until she had found it. With the huge weight lifted from her shoulders, she called her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her because what had been lost was found. Jesus used this story to emphasize two things. First, the unrelenting search that God makes for us when we are lost. He will turn the world upside down to find us. And second, the joy that echoes throughout heaven when a lost soul is found and brought home. If you never realize just how important you are to God, let this story give you a clue.

This has been your thought for the day with Steve Burkham, pastor of Community Christian Church in Stockton, California. If you have questions or comments for Pastor Steve, please send them to [email protected] have a great day, and we hope you'll join us tomorrow as pastor Steve opens God's word to bring us another thought for the day.