9/15/2007

The Legend of the Candle


By Purnell Bailey

One evening a man took a small candle from a box and began to climb a long winding stairway.

"Where are we going?" asked the candle.

"We are going up higher than the house to show ships the way to the harbour."

"But no ship in the harbour could ever see my light," said the candle. "it is so very small."

"If your light is small," the man said, "just keep burning brightly and leave the rest to me."

When they reached the top of the long steps, they came to a larbe lamp. Then he took the little candle and lit the lamp. Soon the great polished reflectors behind the lamp sent beams of light out across miles of sea.

We are God's taper! Our job is to keep on shining, and our effectiveness is in His hands.

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The Lord your God will light your candle: He will enlighten your darkness. (Psalms 18:28)

The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light; but when it is evil, your body also is full of darkness. Therefore see whether the light that is in you isn't darkness. If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle do give you light. (Luke 11:34-36)