A Christian who had been devoutly active for many years suddenly was absent from the assembly. One cold winter evening the preacher knocked at his door. Actually, the preacher and the church member had been long-time good friends.

As they watched the wood burn in the fireplace, the preacher mentioned his absence from the church assembly. The man candidly confessed that he had decided he was just as well off without the church as with it. The minister didn’t say a word. He took the tongs from the rack, reached into the fire, pulled out a flaming ember, and laid it down by itself on the hearth. He still said nothing.

Both men sat in silence and watched the glowing ember lose its glow and turn slowly into a crusty, black lump. After some moments of thoughtful silence, the man turned to the preacher and said, “I get the message, my friend, I see what you mean; I’ll be back next Sunday.”

You see, my friends, we need our church family to keep us strong – away from the fiery family of God our light soon goes out. “Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh” (Heb. 10:24-25).

Think About It!

Have A Great Day!