What part of God’s Story are you?
In the mid 1960’s an epic film was produced called “The Greatest Story Ever Told.” It was a retelling of the Biblical account about Jesus of Nazareth from the Nativity through the Ascension. Of course, God’s Story began long before the nativity and continues still today. We read the Bible and discover many stories of many and varied people with many and varied situations. What I think we may not consider is that God’s Story did not end with the book of Revelation. It continues to this very moment and beyond. You and I are a part of this Story. Consider, what part of God’s Story are you?
Does your story have a passage that includes a personal encounter with God when you realized that His great love for you actually changed His Story? Once when sharing the gospel with an inmate of a local jail, this person asked, “Why would Jesus die for me?” Many people ask that same question. I answered by going back to the beginning of the recorded Story. God always intended to have a loving relationship with mankind. That was the Story He originally authored. But the Story had to take a different direction when that perfect relationship was broken as a result of disobedience. Not only did God provide a way to restore that relationship, He became the main character by taking on human flesh and redeeming mankind.
Because of this change in God’s Story, I can be a part of His Story. My personal encounter with God changed my story as well. God placed a person in my life who shared God’s Story with me and invited me to become a passage in God’s Story. As I willingly followed the direction of God’s plan for me, I experienced peace and joy as never before. But because my story was changed, I experienced a passion to share God’s Story with those whom God intertwined within my story.
Now, God’s Story is filled with people just like me whose story has become a passage in God’s Story. Others have not chosen to be a part or have never heard God’s Story. That is one reason God’s Story continues today because God’s desire is for all mankind to become a part of His Story.
God’s Story is a living, dynamic account of a Creator who fashioned all of creation by speaking it into existence, but carefully created man in His own image. His Story is truly the history of how His love for His creation endured even when those he created turned away from Him. Yet when we turn back to Him, we are blessed with forgiveness, peace and purpose.
In Isaiah 43:7 (NLT) we read, “Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.” I must ask myself, “Is my passage in God’s Story bringing glory to God?” In Deuteronomy 10:12 (NLT) we read a call for love and obedience to God’s people. “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul.” In God’s Story, we are God’s people when we have received His gift of salvation and the call He gave to Israel is our call as well. Also in Micah 6:8 (NLT) when asking if one should come before God with sacrificial offerings, the prophet replies, “No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
We each must consider, “What part of God’s Story am I?” It truly is the greatest story ever told and we are privileged to be a sentence, a passage, perhaps a paragraph. May our part of the Story bring glory to God. And may we share God’s Story as often and as willingly as we would read a story to a grandchild.
For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:19-21 (NLT)
I am thankful that God made me part of His story. May I always be ready to share His story and mine with others.
Our stories are so personal and reveal to us how God knows us intimately. May God give you opportunities to share your story.
Am I bringing glory to God? Where do I fit in God’ Story? Something to always ask myself
Yes, I agree. These questions can guide our evolving story.
What a call to be used! A good word for today’s body of Christ.
I remember as a child in our little church singing the hymn “I love to tell the story.” Now I really do love to tell God’s story!
Carol,
As I was pondering what to write for Laced With Grace for my scheduled time (tomorrow), I started thinking about my faith story and how I (we) need to share those stories. Reading your post confirms that is what I am supposed to write about. Thanks for your post.
I love to see how God works in this way. I look forward to reading your story.
Oh how I am blessed to be part of God’s story. And that He is part of mine. Good post!