ACCOUNTABILITY
A member of a certain church, whopreviously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a fewweeks, the preacher decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The preacherfound the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reasonfor his preachers visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chairnear the fireplace and waited. The preacher made himself at home but saidnothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames aroundthe burning logs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs,carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of thehearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watchedall this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered anddiminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon itwas cold and dead.
Not a word had been spoken since the initialgreeting. The preacher 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 themiddle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow,once more with the light andwarmth of the burning coals around it. As the preacher reached the door toleave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, 'Thank you so much foryour 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 toomuch with too little. Consequently, few listen.
Sometimes the best sermons are the ones leftunspoken.
The Lord is my Shepherd -----that's aRelationship!
I shall not want -----that's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures----that's Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters -----that'sRefreshment!
He restoreth my soul ----- that's Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness--that's Guidance!
For His name sake ----- that's Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of theshadow of death--that's Testing!
I will fear no evil ----- that's Protection!
For Thou art with me ----- that's Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me -----that'sDiscipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presenceof mine enemies------that's Hope!
Thou annointest my head with oil ----- that'sConsecration!
My cup runneth over ----- that's Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all thedays of my life----that's Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord-----that's Security!
Forever ----- that's Eternity!