PastorJCox.com

This is from an email forward I received. Don't know the original source so if you do please let me know so I can give credit where it is due.

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 pastors 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 Sunday."

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

These words have been sung since 1847 and I’ve been singing them myself for 32 years (well, a few less than that, anyway). While singing them at the church Christmas party a couple weeks ago one phrase stuck out to me that never had before.

“Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth”

The birth of Jesus sends an undeniable message about the love that God has for us. Knowing that Jesus gave up the comforts and privileges of heaven to come to earth speaks multitudes about our Heavenly Father. It tells the story of worth and value. To Him we mean so much that He gave us everything for us. The story of His coming really does remind us of our worth to HIM! Now that’s worthy of worship!