A young woman told a short part of her story to us in church yesterday. In her final year of high school, in a time when she was looking for some answers, a boy who is part of our congregation openly talked about his faith in Jesus and invited her to church. Not from a ‘churched’ family, she found the thought of stepping into an unfamiliar environment a challenge, but she courageously did it and found a ‘home’ and a relationship with Jesus.
Now she is in a pre-med program and is headed to a small town in Jamaica
later this year for an outreach program and she invited her church to help her
by provided items to be used at that time. Annabelle’s story is not one of a dramatic
turn from some terrible place in life. She did not escape some horrific situation.
She heard of hope, responded with faith, and as she said found a spiritual
home!
The Good News about Jesus is told in stories. His teaching about His mission and purpose was often wrapped up in parables, simple stories about ordinary life that had a deeper meaning for those who heard them. Have you heard His story and started to write your own faith story?
Since
retiring, in many conversations about my decades of ministry, I found that most
people did not remember many details about sermons I carefully prepared and delivered
but they do recall stories of my life and faith. When I told about experiencing God’s
grace, when I shared about His hand moving in the lives of others, or how I saw someone transformed
by the Good News, or how He sustained me in times of loss and sorrow, people heard
and identified with my ‘testimony’ thinking that “Jesus can do that for me,
too."
Christians are called to “go and tell, ” Jesus parting words to us being -"Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20, NLT) We heard His story and then we tell it.
Often before I make a purchase, I take time to read product reviews. By
definition, a review requires an experience. Who wants to read a critic’s
review if he has not seen the movie? Who wants to hear a opinion about a local
restaurant offered by a person who has not eaten a meal at the
establishment? Was the item useful, durable, as described? What kind of
service did the company provide? Those
reviews have a real effect!
Christian,
your life is a ‘review’ that others read about the Jesus you claim as Lord and
Savior. What story is your life telling? Do your words and your choices align? Is your ‘faith’ more than a Sunday thing,
integrated into your family life, your work world, the relationships with your
neighbors and friends?
In John’s Gospel, a woman with an ugly past, a social outcast, met Jesus at a well in Samaria. He engaged her in conversation and her heart was changed. What happened next is unexpected but truly wonderful. "The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” So the people came streaming from the village to see him." (John 4:28-30, NLT) John summarizes those days at that village telling us that "Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” (John 4:39, NLT)
The “Jesus story” – this is who I was, this is who I am
– of others usually stirs up deep emotion in me. Sometimes the story is raw, freedom
from some addiction, a recovery from some tragedy, or release from from the shame
of past choices. Some are more like the
one I heard yesterday of the faith discovery of new direction, the revelation of
God’s love that gives hope and purpose. The best stories are those that are authentic,
not necessarily eloquent, but real and deep.
John Newton, who penned the words to the old hymn, Amazing Grace, had a story. A troubled child-hood, time at sea, a slave ship captain, a man changed by God’s love who became a pastor, and later a major player in the abolition of slavery in England - this was his story. And he captures the essence this way:
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me,
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind but now I see!
How do you know Jesus?
What has He done in your life?
Where do you struggle, what are your triumphs?
When we have a real story of grace, our witness can be a powerful catalyst of change - for our family, our friends, even our world. Like a man who was healed by Jesus, who was questioned about Who Jesus was, we need not have all the answers to every question, nor must be theologians. It is enough to say, "One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (John 9:25, NIV)
The word from the Word – "On one occasion, while he was eating
with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait
for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John
baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy
Spirit.” (Acts 1:4-5, NIV) And, "you will receive power when
the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8,
NIV)
Let’s tell the Story in our story, honestly and with the desire to let others ‘read’ our review and find His love for themselves, through faith.
____________
(Video
of this blog at this link)
Amazing
grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see
'Twas
grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
Through
many dangers toils and snares
I have already come
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home
When
we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun
John Newton
© Words: Public Domain; Music: Public Domain
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