Mr. Albert was just about ready to leave for home when he saw Maria. She was crying.
As a missionary in South America, he often went to Children’s Hospital to help when someone he knew was sick. He had just finished visiting someone else when he saw Maria crying in her hospital bed.
“I want to go home,” she sobbed, not knowing that Mr. Albert was watching her.
He stepped over to her bedside. “Hello,” he said kindly. “You don’t look very sick.” He noticed that all the others in her room were getting medicine, but not Maria. She wouldn’t answer but went on crying.
Mr. Albert wondered what was wrong with her and why she couldn’t go home. He decided to ask the nurses about Maria. But they wouldn’t tell him anything either.
Mr. Albert felt so sorry for the little girl who wanted to go home. Most of the other children had a mother or a father there with them, but there was no one with Maria. Mr. Albert saw the man in charge of the hospital and asked him about Maria. “What’s wrong with her? She doesn’t look very sick. Why can’t she go home?” he asked.
“Oh, she’s fine now,” the man said, “but her parents don’t have the money to pay her hospital bill. She can’t go home until her bill is paid.”
Mr. Albert had never even seen Maria before, but he felt sorry for the little girl who had to stay in the hospital even after she was well. He asked how much the bill was and decided to pay it himself. He was glad that Maria could go home.
But now there was another problem. There was no one to take her home. Her mother would not be coming, because she knew that the people at the hospital would ask her to pay the money she owed. She did not know that Maria’s hospital bill had been paid. So no one would come to take her home.
When Mr. Albert first saw Maria crying, she was dressed in a shirt that said “Children’s Hospital,” and she was not allowed out of bed. Now the nurses gave her a dressing gown and let her up. So Mr. Albert took her to the door of the hospital and asked her where her mother worked. Maria said, “Down the street,” but he soon realized that she really did not know.
How could they find her parents? The nurses now had another idea. “We’ll announce it over the radio,” they said. “Someone in her family will hear it.” So they called the radio station and had them announce that the hospital bill for Maria had been paid and that she was now free to go home. Mr. Albert could not wait at the hospital any longer. He had a Bible meeting that he had to go to, so he had to go home.
Maria’s debt was for money that she owed the hospital. She could never pay it. Because of your sins, you owe a debt to God that you can never pay. The Bible says that “the wages of sin is death” and “after death the judgment.”
But God’s good news for you is that the Lord Jesus paid the debt for sin when He died on the cross of Calvary. “Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold... but with the precious blood of Christ.” 1 Peter 1:18,1918Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:18‑19). God now offers you a free salvation because Jesus paid the price. Won’t you accept this free gift today?
Mr. Albert did not expect to see Maria again. Imagine his surprise when Maria and her mother knocked at his front door a few days later! They did not know where he lived, but had asked around town if anyone knew where the American missionary lived. Finally someone was able to tell them. But what could the mother want now? Why had she gone to so much trouble to find Mr. Albert’s house? He was so happy when he found out!
“I just wanted to come and tell you thank you,” Maria’s mother said. “Thank you for paying the hospital bill for Maria.”
Mr. Albert assured her that she was welcome, and in his heart he was so glad that they had come to say thank you.
Have you accepted God’s gift? Do you know that He is also waiting to hear a “thank you” from you? Have you ever really thought about what it is that the Lord Jesus has done for you? He gave His life for you on the cross of Calvary so that your sins could be forgiven. He has promised you a home in heaven and many wonderful blessings. “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:3232He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32). Have you ever told Him “thank you"? God has written in His Word, the Bible, that one poor man who was healed “turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks.” Luke 17:15,1615And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. (Luke 17:15‑16). Ten people had been healed that day, but only one turned around to thank the Lord Jesus. Jesus asked, “Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?” Is the Lord Jesus still waiting to hear your “thank you"?
Before Maria and her mother left, Mr. Albert and his wife, knowing they were poor, gave them some clothing for their family and some soap. The mother had only come to say “thank you,” but by coming she got something more. Perhaps you only think of escaping from the fire of hell, but if you come to the Saviour, you will find that He has more wonderful things for you than you ever thought possible.
Once more, Mr. Albert did not expect to see Maria again. But to his surprise she came back for a second visit. After that she came often to his house. Mr. Albert had Bible classes for children, so he told Maria what day each week she could come for the Bible class. But she still continued to come very often to his house just to visit. In fact, she came so often that Mr. Albert finally had to ask her to come only on the day of the Bible class.
Mr. Albert was too busy to visit with her every day, but he thought how his love was much less than the love of the Saviour. The Lord Jesus never turns anyone away no matter how many times they come to Him. The Lord Jesus said, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37). The Alberts could not have Maria always in their house, but the Lord Jesus wants you to be with Him in heaven forever. His love is far greater!
Have you received this great love of the Saviour? Trust in the Lord Jesus today and you will begin to enjoy the loving-kindness of the Lord.
ML-11/26/1989