The Actor and the Vicar


Years ago when I was in college, I came across a little story that I clipped and copied it into my notes.  I don’t know where it came from, but I’ve never forgotten it.  A social gathering was held somewhere in the UK, and among the attendees were a famous British actor and an aged Christian minister.  During the course of the evening, the actor was asked to give a recitation, and he decided to use the Twenty-Third Psalm.  He quoted it with a beautiful voice, with pauses and inflections and remarkable timber of voice.  When he was finished, a mummer of admiration ran through the crowd.  Then the vicar was invited to recite the same passage of Scripture.  But when he finished, all eyes were filled with tears because of the great tenderness and understanding with which he had spoken.  Later the actor came up to him and said, “You know the difference between our recitations?  I know the psalm, but you know the Shepherd.

PS – This is from today’s sermon at the Donelson Fellowship.  To access the entire sermon, click here.  Also check out our booklet, The Lord is My Shepherd–That’s Enough.