“Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.” ~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Our church theme for 2018 is “Stronger Together.” There is a great disadvantage if we are not together in fellowship, prayer, and study of God’s word. Jesus prayed that we would be one as He and the Father were one. (John 17:21) Oneness cannot happen at a distance.
There is an old illustration that is told and retold again and again about a man who had been a long time absent from worship. One evening his pastor stopped by. The delinquent man knew why the preacher was there, but he let him inside anyway. Not a word was spoken by either man as they sat by the fire warming themselves from the night air. The delinquent was sure that the preacher was preparing himself for a fiery sermon warning the man against the sin of despising God’s word. The delinquent steeled himself for whatever the preacher would say. But the preacher just sat there poking at the fire. Some time passed and still not a word was spoken. The delinquent began to think the preacher had lost his nerve. Until he realized the fire that the preacher had been tending had grown very large and very hot. The delinquent watched as the preacher slowly removed one ember from the heart of the fire. He watched as the ember, once on fire and white hot, now separated from the heat of the fire began to smoke and cool. The delinquent starred at the cold dead ember for a moment. And he watched as the preacher gently scooped up the cold ember and placed it in the fire from which it had come. He watched as the ember caught fire and began to glow white hot once more. Still not saying a word the preacher stood up to leave. At the door it was the delinquent man who spoke. “Thank you for the fiery sermon preacher. I will be there this Sunday.”
Increase your victories in 2018 with us as we come together in the Lord.”
