"A Visit From The Pastor"
A member of a certain church, who previously had been
attending services regularly, suddenly stopped coming to church.
After a few weeks, the Pastor decided to visit. The Pastor
found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.
Guessing the reason for his Pastor's visit, the man welcomed
him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.
The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence,
he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs.
After some minutes, the Pastor took the fire tongs, carefully
picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of
the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent.
The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone
ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary
glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and lifeless.
The Pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave,
he slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed
it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow,
once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
As the Pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear
running down his cheek, "Thank you so much for your visit and
especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next
Sunday."
We live in a world today which tries to say too much with too
little.
Consequently, few listen.
Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.
What
silent message would God have you share with someone today?
"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see
your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
-- Matthew 5:16