Silent Sermon
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 realizing 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, "I have been depressed at the lost of my
best friend. Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery
sermon. I will come back to 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
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