This story is told
of Dr. Dwight L. Moody. I share it today without commentary or observation
except for this one note … God sent Jesus into our world so many Christmas’ ago
to keep our flame burning … Maybe that is why more people attend Christmas Eve
and Easter services to relight their fire which might have gone out during the
year.
A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services
regularly, stopped going After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him.
It was a chilly evening. 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 dead.
Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. 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 will be back in church next Sunday''.
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