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 shall be back in church next Sabbath."

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