Emphasis Preaching Journal

Hans Christian Anderson once wrote a poignant story titled "The Little Match Girl." The little girl was out one winter night in the bitter, cold snow and her little feet were blue with cold. In her apron she was carrying matches that she had been trying to sell for a penny a box, but no one had bought any all day, and she was afraid to go home, knowing her cruel foster father would beat her for her failure. Shivering and hungry, she finally huddled in a corner between two buildings to try and to keep warm. Taking one match, she lighted it to warm her frozen fingers, and in its light she seemed to see a big warm stove, which disappeared when the match burned out. She struck another match, and this time she saw a table filled with food, which then also disappeared. As she lighted more matches, she began to see, in the glow of the flame, her grandmother with arms stretched out to her. She finally lighted the whole box and could see her grandmother taking her into her arms and whisking her up to heaven. The next morning, people passing by saw a poor little girl still huddled between the buildings with burned matches all about her.
Jesus is the true light who has come into the world that we might escape the darkness of death. Through him we have life. Through him we are children of God.
-- Guettler