Many of you will already know that The Greatest Story Ever Told that I refer to in the blog title is the Bible. A while back, I asked a group of kids in a Children’s Moment, if they knew why it is called that. Do you? I’m sure that there are many perspectives on the answer to that question, but I’d like you to consider it in a way you may not have thought about before.
We are all familiar with the many great stories in the Bible about Adam and Eve, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, and so many more, including, of course, Jesus. These wonderful Bible stories teach us great lessons and valuable truths about how to live our lives well.
What you may not have thought about much is that all of these stories the Bible tells us are really each only part of the bigger story the Bible tells. That is, the underlying story of how much God loves His people and how He has, all through time, been reaching out, over and over, to show them His love and encourage them to draw close to Him. One way I have heard it described is that the Bible is a love letter from God to us. Pretty awesome, isn’t it? Yet that isn’t the end of the story.
The story of God’s love for His people continues with us – with our story. Each of us has a story about how God has worked in our lives to show Himself and let us know how much He loves us. Most of you probably are aware that the Book of Acts, in the New Testament, is the story of the early church. Acts ends differently than almost all of the other books in the New Testament. Generally, each book has some sort of conclusion that wraps up the message shared in it, but Acts doesn’t, it just stops. I believe, as do many others, that the reason for this is that the story of the church is still being written – by believers in this time, as well as all the rest of history since the Bible was written. And what is the story of the church? It is the story of each and every believer within it, as well as the sum of all its parts, which is far more than each one individually. So – what is your story? You do have one, whether you have ever given it much thought or not.
Many of us – myself included – often think something like, “Oh, my story isn’t much, I haven’t overcome addiction or experienced a miraculous healing, or any other sort of ‘supernatural’ manifestation of God’s work or presence in my life, so my story isn’t important, or won’t witness to anyone.” I understand that – as I said, I’ve often felt/thought that myself, about myself. However, each of us has a voice and a story that is unique to us. There is someone out there to who your unique voice and story – and mine – will minister and witness to in a way no one else’s will. What is your story? Think about it, and be prepared to share it. God will provide the opportunity, if you make yourself available and are prepared to tell it when He does.
Blessed to be a blessing,
Kathy
