Taking It to Work:
There is a story of a church member who got so busy with his job that he stopped showing on Sunday. After a few weeks the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening, and the pastor found the man at home working away before a blazing fire.
Knowing he was in trouble, the man welcomed his pastor with a sheepish smile, led him to a pair of big chairs near the fireplace, and they both sat down. The pastor grinned slightly and made himself comfortable, but said nothing. They both sat and stared at the flames.
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. They both stared at the hot glowing ember.
As they sat watching, and the clock ticked behind them, not a word was spoken, as the warm glow of the ember, minute by minute, slowly faded as grey ash replaced its orange glow.
As the pastor stood to go, just before the last of the little coal’s heat was gone, he picked up the lonely ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire.
As the pastor put on his coat, both men watched as the ember began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
As the pastor reached the door to leave, he looked up and asked, “See you this Sunday?” “Without a doubt Pastor.” He said, “Thanks for the fiery sermon.”
The question is: Who is strengthening your walk? Who do you call upon when you are feeling weak and losing your glow? In the workplace we are assigned to a team, so that we can accomplish what cannot be done alone. The mightiest leaders are upheld by their teams, and the best teams, by those who lead them.
By God’s Word and from our own experience, we should know better than to try to live out our faith alone. God never intended it to be that way. If you are struggling in your faith and you feel alone, you probably are. The world has made out that our faith is to be strictly “personal”, but God designed it to be communal – to be part of His community – His Body.
Make a new commitment to get to church this coming week, and find some brothers or sisters in a small group to meet with regularly during the week. Once reconnected, you will soon be glowing bright once again, as His Word works in you, today.
Heb 10:25 (ESV) – . . . not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Eph 4:16 (ESV) – from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
1Cor 10:17 (ESV) – Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.
Ecc 4:9-12 (ESV) – Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
1 Pet 5:8 (ESV) – Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Listening to the Holy Spirit (Rhema):
The ember burns brightest in the surround of other embers. The enemy calls to isolation. His prey die alone, withdrawn from the flock. No man walks in strength alone. A false belief is that of a solus leader. I call you to Myself, but also to those like Myself; others answering the call of holiness, the call of our Father. The strength to turn is not easily done alone. Two are stronger than one, and a third greater still. The strength of the beam is amidst its foundation, but the strength of the building amidst its beams. You build the Kingdom on My foundation, for it cannot stand without. Homes and nations are then built of men. They do not stand eternal, as the strength of men is weak, and the will of man grows weary, therefore, in My Kingdom one man lifts another. As the good man falters, it is his brother who lifts him again. And as the holy man shakes under load, it is those about him who steady his walk. Do not be fooled; no one can carry his own load. I give the load, and I know My children. It is to be carried always with another. In one accord you are My church, but in isolation, redeemed and still prey to the past. Your strength resides in Me, and My strength is given in My people. My Word gives you My precepts, and in My heart through your brothers, your greatest strength.
