The shortest sermon I ever heard was preached by the shortest preacher I ever saw. And it was not on a Sunday, but on a Monday — and it was on a boat that I heard it.
The boat had just left the city of Toronto and was steaming out toward Center Island. Many of the passengers were amused by hearing a shrill little voice asking endless questions. The little owner of that shrill voice was not content to talk only to his mother but wandered from passenger to passenger asking all sorts of questions. All at once he found himself standing before a big policeman. But nothing could stop that busy voice — not even a policeman.
“Are you a policeman?” “Yes.”
“Why are you a policeman?”
There was a puzzled laugh, for the man didn’t seem to have any answer ready. But there was another question to follow.
“Is it because you like to be a policeman?”
“Yes, I guess that’s it.” Then as if afraid of too many more questions, especially with everyone else watching, the policeman took out his handcuffs and a key and began to explain that they were to put on bad boys when they were taken to jail.
“You won’t take me away, will you?”
“No, I won’t take you away. Whom do you belong to?”
“I belong to Jesus. Do you belong to Jesus too?”
There was no answers. The handcuffs were silently put away and the policeman turned and left the lad to ask his questions of someone else.
Friend, do you belong to Jesus?
ML 08/09/1953