Sermon - 2019-09-15
For many of us today, we have heard this lesson before, the parable of the lost sheep. We have seen it depicted in images through church and even still many of us have not seen a live sheep in our lives or we do not see them on a regular basis. However it is the idea that is conveyed to us in this parable that has echoed in our hearts and minds to give us a better understanding of God and God’s love for you.
However it is the second part of this parable that is perhaps something that we can relate to on a regular basis. A person loses some money, now if you lost some money, would you not want to find it? For many of us, we drop a penny and don’t really think much of it. I mean it is only a penny right? Yet a penny is also the very foundation of all our financial understanding within the United States. Within the parable we hear of a person who lost a silver coin, well that’s a little different, it has greater value. Today with the price of silver, that coin would be worth $50 if it were a modern day coin.
Puts a little different perspective on it, now you are not searching for a penny but now you are searching for $50 worth of money. Something that seems to have greater value, now we are willing to put a little bit more time and effort into discovering where it is. We are willing to clean the house, something that we normally put off until we absolutely have to. We are willing to look in all the cracks, slots or corners that we typically do not clean but now there is a chance that the money that we are looking for is there.
For many of us, we know these parables. However, Jesus uses both parables of the lost lamb and the lost coin, to explain something clear so that all would be able to understand. That God looks upon us with such great value, that God is willing to go searching for us. God has created you and cares for you even when you stray from God. God will not rest until you are brought back into the herd, you are back in the bag of coins, you are made aware of your value to God.
Hearing these things at the time of Jesus was a completely new way of viewing God’s Love for you and for all of us. The people had always heard that God was angry and that we must do something in order that we may be brought back into the herd, pay retribution and interest in order that we may be able to know that we are beloved by God. Yet Jesus is clear, we are not the first movers in restoring the relationship, God is. God is the one who knows our value, even when we do not. God is the one who restores us to right relationship with God’s self and one another.
Yes, God reveals to us that we matter greatly and that even in the pit of despair that we may feel that we are in this world. God reminds us that God is right there with us. For many of us, we are led astray in thinking and wondering, “Why would God allow these things to happen to me?” Yet once again, we are only thinking of yourself and missing the point of the parable. We have value to God. Yet so the person who is next to us, the person who we can love and support. The person whom we can share this Good News.
Truly this parable is placing a mirror in front of each and everyone of us and asking us, “How are you living your life? What are you lifting up as having value? How valuable are the people that are in your life?” These questions get us to think outside of our own self and begin to look at the bigger picture of the world and what God is doing in it. Yet also, they give us a purpose to care and love as God loves us.
This week, as you begin your day and you look in the mirror. I pray that you would look at yourself and be reminded, “God values and loves you. Go and share that love with others.” Amen.
However it is the second part of this parable that is perhaps something that we can relate to on a regular basis. A person loses some money, now if you lost some money, would you not want to find it? For many of us, we drop a penny and don’t really think much of it. I mean it is only a penny right? Yet a penny is also the very foundation of all our financial understanding within the United States. Within the parable we hear of a person who lost a silver coin, well that’s a little different, it has greater value. Today with the price of silver, that coin would be worth $50 if it were a modern day coin.
Puts a little different perspective on it, now you are not searching for a penny but now you are searching for $50 worth of money. Something that seems to have greater value, now we are willing to put a little bit more time and effort into discovering where it is. We are willing to clean the house, something that we normally put off until we absolutely have to. We are willing to look in all the cracks, slots or corners that we typically do not clean but now there is a chance that the money that we are looking for is there.
For many of us, we know these parables. However, Jesus uses both parables of the lost lamb and the lost coin, to explain something clear so that all would be able to understand. That God looks upon us with such great value, that God is willing to go searching for us. God has created you and cares for you even when you stray from God. God will not rest until you are brought back into the herd, you are back in the bag of coins, you are made aware of your value to God.
Hearing these things at the time of Jesus was a completely new way of viewing God’s Love for you and for all of us. The people had always heard that God was angry and that we must do something in order that we may be brought back into the herd, pay retribution and interest in order that we may be able to know that we are beloved by God. Yet Jesus is clear, we are not the first movers in restoring the relationship, God is. God is the one who knows our value, even when we do not. God is the one who restores us to right relationship with God’s self and one another.
Yes, God reveals to us that we matter greatly and that even in the pit of despair that we may feel that we are in this world. God reminds us that God is right there with us. For many of us, we are led astray in thinking and wondering, “Why would God allow these things to happen to me?” Yet once again, we are only thinking of yourself and missing the point of the parable. We have value to God. Yet so the person who is next to us, the person who we can love and support. The person whom we can share this Good News.
Truly this parable is placing a mirror in front of each and everyone of us and asking us, “How are you living your life? What are you lifting up as having value? How valuable are the people that are in your life?” These questions get us to think outside of our own self and begin to look at the bigger picture of the world and what God is doing in it. Yet also, they give us a purpose to care and love as God loves us.
This week, as you begin your day and you look in the mirror. I pray that you would look at yourself and be reminded, “God values and loves you. Go and share that love with others.” Amen.
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