This is a devotional from George Arthur Frantz's Book of Mercies:
"A missionary in Iran was learning the language. One day, he asked his native teacher to tell him a story. The teacher thought and then told this story:
The great and good Shah Abbas liked to mingle with his people in disguise.Once, dressed as a poor man he visited the fireman who heated the water for the public baths.The Shah sat with him and they talked. When mealtime came, the fireman shared his black bread and his jug of water with his new friend. The Shah came often. The fireman opened his heart to him, because he loved him.
One day the Shah told him who he really was. The fireman only looked at him in love and wonder. He asked nothing. The Shah asked, "Do you not understand, I can make you rich?"
The fireman replied,"Yes, my lord, I understand. You have left your palace to come and sit with me in this dark place. You have shared my coarse bread. You have listened to my thoughts. You care whether I am sad or glad. You can give me nothing greater, nothing richer. For other, you may give riches, but to me you have given yourself. I ask only that you will never take your friendship from me.
Behold I stand at the door and knock: if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)"
"A missionary in Iran was learning the language. One day, he asked his native teacher to tell him a story. The teacher thought and then told this story:
The great and good Shah Abbas liked to mingle with his people in disguise.Once, dressed as a poor man he visited the fireman who heated the water for the public baths.The Shah sat with him and they talked. When mealtime came, the fireman shared his black bread and his jug of water with his new friend. The Shah came often. The fireman opened his heart to him, because he loved him.
One day the Shah told him who he really was. The fireman only looked at him in love and wonder. He asked nothing. The Shah asked, "Do you not understand, I can make you rich?"
The fireman replied,"Yes, my lord, I understand. You have left your palace to come and sit with me in this dark place. You have shared my coarse bread. You have listened to my thoughts. You care whether I am sad or glad. You can give me nothing greater, nothing richer. For other, you may give riches, but to me you have given yourself. I ask only that you will never take your friendship from me.
Behold I stand at the door and knock: if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)"
