WE REALLY DO NEED THE CHURCH!
For some reason, a member of a certain church, who had
previously attended services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to drop
by for a visit. It was quite a chilly evening, and 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 in, led him to a big chair near the fireplace and patiently waited
for his counsel. The pastor made himself comfortable but said absolutely nothing. Sometimes silence really is golden.
They sat together as friends, simply enjoying each other’s company while
contemplating the play of the flames around the burning logs.
After some minutes, the pastor took the fireplace tongs and
carefully picked up a brightly burning ember, placing it to one side of the
hearth – all alone. Then he sat back in his chair and observed
silently. His host watched all of this in quiet fascination.
As the one lone ember’s flame diminished, there was a
momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was completely
cold, apparently as dead as a doornail.
Not a word had been spoken since their initial greetings.
Just before the pastor departed, he picked up the cold,
dead ember and returned it to the middle of the fire. Almost immediately, it began to glow again
with the light and warmth of the burning coals surrounding it.
As the pastor reached the doorway, his host said, “Thanks
so much for your visit, and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be
back in church next Sunday.”
Lesson learned.
Every committed believer understands the fundamental fact
that weekly worship and Word gatherings are not optional. In fact, they
are clearly mandated by our Lord: “Not forsaking the assembling of
ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one
another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews
10:25)
So let’s make it our business to gather together (this
week) with all the people of God to hear from Heaven and to collectively
celebrate the King of Kings.
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