An auction is a sale where items are sold to the highest bidder. In one city, the police were auctioning off about 100 unclaimed bicycles.
“$10,” said 11-year-old Victor as the bidding opened on the first bike. The bidding, however, went much higher, so he couldn’t buy that one.
“$10,” Victor repeated hopefully each time another bike came up for sale.
The auctioneer, Mr. West, noticed that the boy’s hopes seemed highest each time a 10-speed bike was being auctioned. There was just one more 10-speed bike left. The bidding went up to $28.
“Sold to that boy over there for $30!” said Mr. West. He took $20 out of his own wallet and asked Victor for his $10.
Victor gave Mr. West his money, in single dollars and change. Then he took his bike and started to leave. But suddenly he stopped. Walking his bike back to Mr. West, he thanked him for helping him pay for the bike.
In Luke 17 we read the story of how the Lord Jesus healed ten lepers, but only one of them returned to thank Him. The Lord said, “Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?” (vs. 17).
God gave His only Son in love to be the Saviour of sinners, and the Lord Jesus gave Himself upon the cross to die to put away sin and to give everlasting life to all who will believe. Have you believed and received the gift of everlasting life? If so, are you like one of those nine lepers who went on their way, forgetting to thank Jesus who had healed them? Or are you like Victor in our story who returned to say, “Thank you”? Surely, the Lord Jesus and the Father who sent Him are worthy of our thanks and praise.
“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).
“The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
ML-04/26/2015