Scripture
But God has stood by me, just as he promised, and I’m standing here saying what I’ve been saying to anyone, whether king or child, who will listen. And everything I’m saying is completely in line with what the prophets and Moses said would happen: One, the Messiah must die; two, raised from the dead, he would be the first rays of God’s daylight shining on people far and near, people both godless and God-fearing.” Acts 26:22-23
Observation
His Story + My Story = History. Every where Paul was he told his story. In the book of Acts alone we read multiple occasions of Paul sharing his conversion story. Whether he was talking with roaring mobs trying to kill him, in synagogues filled with curious Jews or in living rooms filled with hungry Gentiles Paul was ready to share the story of the Resurrected Lord who met him on that dusty road to Damascus. Though Paul had been a man of great reputation and powerful position he had been humbled in the presence of God. Now, he was no respecter of persons and would share his story with anyone who would listen. Little did he know how much these conversations with kids and Kings would truly make History. This history we are still reading about and learning from today started with one man’s willingness to lay his life down and share his Jesus story.
Application
Sometimes, God will use visions and dreams to turn the hearts of people. Sometimes, God will use the power of a personal story, the truth of a transformed life, the sincerity of a sinner saved by grace, or the testimony of a personal triumph through Christ. These stories of redemption can often soften even the hardest of hearts to the new thing that God wants to do! People love stories and we use stories to make sense of the world. When my boys were young I’d share the story of Jesus with them in a way they could understand. I’d work it in to our bedtime routine. I had a story to share because my parents shared their story of meeting Jesus and how He changed their lives. Because of this I found myself at the early age of 6 kneeling by my bed with my Mom and asking Jesus in to my heart. God’s story + her story = a history making moment in my life. Now I get to share my story with kids and Kings and anyone who will listen. Now my boys are sharing their story of Jesus with anyone who will listen and so the story keeps going and history is being written on the hearts of those who find Jesus. A great example of the power of story is the Significant Objects Project. The project took a bunch of junk from thrift stores, had writers create a fictional story about the object, and then posted the object, along with its new fictional story, to eBay. The result? They sold $128.74 worth of thrift-store junk for $3,612.51. Story is powerful. Story matters. Our story matters even more. The Book of Revelation reveals how The Story of life itself ends. It ends with God's Story and our story ending the devil's story for all of history. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” (Revelation 12:11)
Prayer
Jesus, I’m so thankful You use story to get our attention. Instead of facts and figures You share Your heart with us through colors, descriptions, reflections and stories of redemption. You have captured my heart and I pray that I can represent You in the same way. We live in a culture of conflict and an age of rage. People can argue with theology but they can’t argue with story and You always had a way of teaching theology through story. Help me to do the same. Help me to not get pulled into defending myself and my position. Help me to hear out the stories of those around me before I share my stories with them.
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