Go Tell His Story
If I could only have one television channel to watch it would be the Biography channel. I love to hear true stories of people’s lives: finding out where they came from and how they grew up, who or what influenced their life’s decisions, and where they eventually ended up.
Stories fascinate us because we can all relate to them, or at least in part. Each of us has experienced childhood and an upbringing that may have been pleasant or unpleasant. We have all been through times of celebration as well as rough patches. We’ve been educated to some degree and have ideas, skills and talents to share with others. We all have a past, and we all have a future.
Stories have helped shape cultures around the world, tying one generation to the next. From Native Americans to Vikings to Samoans, people groups from long ago have learned from their ancestors methods of growing crops, avoiding or fighting predators, respecting their elders and taking care of their young.
Stories add color to our lives and great ones can paint the most vivid images we carry along with us. They inspire us, elicit emotional responses within us, and allow us to harken back to our own familial days.
Biblical stories are no different. We read of Abraham, Sarah and Isaac; Moses and the Israelites; Noah, and various other characters of the Old Testament. Their lives had meaning. Their stories had impact.
We read about John the Baptist, the Apostle Paul, the 12 disciples and the many different ways people were touched by each of them.
Everyone has a story to share. The story of our Savior, Jesus, is woven through the Bible from beginning to end. His story needs to be told. Are we willing to learn from the stories of others? Are we willing to share our own?
We have example after example of who Jesus is: a patient teacher, story-teller, someone who continually made time to relate with people, often those whom others shunned. How can I be the same? Can I make time to listen to those near me who may be hurting and are spiritually lost? Can you and I care more about them than our own comfort or possible discomfort?
The times in which we live are serious and worrisome. Threats of war, economic downturns, political upheaval and moral decay have weakened many spirits and wreaked havoc across the globe. High rates of depression, anxiety and even suicide have taken their toll on almost every family. The spiritual battle of good versus evil is REAL! In my mind, this time is also exciting as it opens the door even wider to conversations about hope….the hope that can only be found in our savior, Jesus.
As God’s anointed messenger, Isaiah prophetically passes on God’s message, “See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc; no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord! And this is their vindication from me!” (Emphasis mine.)
As believers, we can be bold! We have no excuse not to tell others about Christ. We can live as though we have the Holy Spirit in us, because WE DO! We’ve been given the power to proclaim the Gospel BOLDLY to everyone…to those who will listen and those who will not. In Mark 16 He instructs us to do just that: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
God will work out the rest, we need only obey the commission.
Let’s pray…Almighty Father, thank you for giving us the gift of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. We celebrate you for freeing us by your love. Embolden us to go and tell Your story with others, so that they too can experience complete love, forgiveness and freedom…this Christmas and each day forward. Show us how, we pray. Amen.
~ Tara Dye is a longtime member of LIFE Fellowship. She and her husband Paul have three children.