Group Chat Week 2: The Lost Coin | March 17th, 2024
bible reading: Luke 15:8-10; Leviticus 27:1-8
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it?
9 And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’
10 In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”
1 The Lord said to Moses,
2 “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. If anyone makes a special vow to dedicate someone to the Lord by paying the value of that person,
3 here is the scale of values to be used. A man between the ages of twenty and sixty is valued at fifty shekels of silver, as measured by the sanctuary shekel.
4 A woman of that age is valued at thirty shekels of silver.
5 A boy between the ages of five and twenty is valued at twenty shekels of silver; a girl of that age is valued at ten shekels of silver.
6 A boy between the ages of one month and five years is valued at five shekels of silver; a girl of that age is valued at three shekels of silver.
7 A man older than sixty is valued at fifteen shekels of silver; a woman of that age is valued at ten shekels of silver.
8 If you desire to make such a vow but cannot afford to pay the required amount, take the person to the priest. He will determine the amount for you to pay based on what you can afford.
devotion:
Today, let's reflect on the intrinsic worth that God places on each of us. The Parable of the Lost Coin teaches us about the joy that comes from rediscovery and repentance. As you read Luke 15:8-10, contemplate the effort the woman puts into finding her lost coin. This parable illustrates how God values each of us and the celebration that occurs in heaven over one sinner who repents. Leviticus 27:1-8 may seem like a list of monetary valuations, but it points to a deeper truth about our worth being defined by God, not by human standards.
Question for reflection:
Consider the times you've felt undervalued by the world. How does it change your perspective to know that your value is determined by God and not by external factors?