Our Daily Bread July 31
Priceless Lives in Christ / By: Xochitl Dixon There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Luke 15:10
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Luke 15:8–10 (NIV):
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
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.
Today’s Hymns
Your Love in mine
Ninety and Nine
Scripture and Respond
Matthew 18:12-14
12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
Romans 9:25-26
25 As he says in Hosea:“I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people; and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,”26 and,“In the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”
Reflection:
Have you ever prayed for others earnestly, just in the way you pray for any lost treasure? Whose salvation will you commit to praying for today?
When you see someone willing to repent and surrender his life to Christ because of your care and intercession, would you count it as a great privilege to celebrate this?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding me that every person You create is a priceless life worth saving. Please help me pray fervently for my family members and friends who have not believed in You. Help me as well to grab every chance to share the gospel with them.
Wong Wai Tung
(Chief Executive Officer of The Great Wall Education Foundation) &
Sam Chow
(Administrative Officer of The Great Wall Education Foundation)
Reflection and prayer translated by Jenny Hung
