A Debt We Can Never Repay

Theme: Jesus paid a debt we can never repay. Proper 6 (11) Year C
Object: A nice bicycle, if possible
Scripture: Luke 7:41-47 (NIV)

John was a boy about the age of some of you. One day he was playing with a friend who let him ride his new
bicycle. It was a very nice bicycle -- probably a lot like this one that we have here today. After riding the
bicycle for a while, John got off and parked it behind a car in the driveway. John and his friend got so busy
playing that they forgot all about the bicycle. After a while, the woman who owned the car came out of the
house and got into the car. She started the engine and began to back out of the driveway. You can probably
guess what happened. "CRUNCH!" The sound was unmistakable. Without looking, both boys knew what had
happened. The woman had backed over the bicycle. All that remained was a pile of twisted metal.

The woman jumped out of her car and began to apologize. "I am so sorry. I didn't see the bicycle. I will gladly
pay for a new one."

What a relief! John's worries were over -- except for having to tell his father. John didn't want to tell his father
what had happened, but he knew he would find out anyway. When he told his father what had happened and
that the woman who ran over the bicycle was going to buy his friend a new one, the father said, "No way, she
didn't do anything wrong. You are the one who left the bicycle in the driveway, so you are the one who is
responsible."

John's heart sank. He didn't have the money to pay for the bicycle. He only had a couple of dollars in his piggy
bank.

John's father looked at him and said, "Son, we all make mistakes. I know you are sorry for what you have done
and that you don't have the money to buy your friend a new bicycle. I will pay for the bicycle."

John ran to his daddy, put his arms around his neck, and with tears running down his cheeks, he whispered in
his daddy's ear, "Thank you, daddy. I love you!"

That is a good picture of what our Heavenly Father has done for us. We all make mistakes -- the Bible calls
them sins. The Bible tells us that our Father loved us so much that he sent his only Son to die on the cross to pay
for our sins. There is no way that we could ever repay him for what he has done for us. All we can do is say,
"Thank you" and try to show him how much we love him.

That is what today's Bible lesson teaches us. (Read Luke 7:41-47)

How often do you tell your heavenly Father that you love him? How do you show it?

Dear Father, we love you and we just want to say, "Thank you." You paid a debt we can never repay. In Jesus'
name we pray, amen.