Preach "The King Has Come" 3-Part Series this week!
Preach Christmas week

Sermon Illustrations

Father Covers Overdraft for Daughter

In His book, Cure for the Common Life, Max Lucado talks about the time the bank sent him an overdraft notice on the checking account of one of his daughters. He says, “I encourage my college-age girls to monitor their accounts. Even so, they sometimes overspend.

“What should I do?” he asks. “Send her an angry letter? Admonition might help her later, but it won’t satisfy the bank. Phone and tell her to make a deposit? Might as well tell a fish to fly. I know her liquidity,” Lucado says. “Zero.”

“What should I do?” Lucado asks. “Transfer the money from my account to hers? Seemed to be the best option.” Lucado says, “I could replenish her account and pay the overdraft fee as well. Since she calls me Dad,” Lucado said, “I did what dads do. I covered my daughter’s mistake.”

When he told her she was overdrawn, she said she was sorry. Still, she offered no deposit. She was broke. She had one option, “Dad, could you…”

“Honey,” Lucado interrupted, “I already have.” He met her need before she knew she had one.

So it is with our Heavenly Father. Long before we knew we needed grace, He made an ample deposit. Before we knew we needed a Savior, we had one. And when we ask him for mercy, he answers, “Dear child. I’ve already given it.” (Max Lucado, Cure for the Common Life, Thomas Nelson, 2008, pp. 69-70; www.PreachingToday.com)

That’s what the cross is all about. It was God paying our sin-debt even before we knew we were in trouble.

From a sermon by C. Philip Green, Glimpse the Glory, 11/21/2009

Related Sermon Illustrations

Related Sermons