"Lighting the Fire"
Jotting – Week 23
Tell His Story
In telling His story, where do you start? There are so many stories of God that we can relate to another person. So many stories that fit every circumstance in life. So many stories that answer every question.
Sometimes it’s just enough to tell of God’s works: “ I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works” (Psalm 9:1).
When the Spirit of God fills our lives, He makes us aware of God’s presence with us, His protection, His love, His strength, His guidance. You can tell of those times: “My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And Your salvation all the day, For I do not know their limits. I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only. O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works” (Psalm 71:15-17).
God has a reason for us to “pass on” the knowledge of His works: “Give ear, O my people, to my law; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments; And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, And whose spirit was not faithful to God. (Psalm 78:1-8).
But it’s not only the next generation that needs to know of the Lord’s works. We need to tell all those who don’t know Jesus that there is a way out of the pit, a light in the darkness, hope for their hopelessness. Paul wrote: “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!’” (Romans 10:13-15)
People who are suffering from the loss of a loved one might need to hear of Jesus’ compassion in the story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead and Martha’s testimony (see John 11); and the words of Psalm 23; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; and Revelation 21:1-5.
Those who are seeking answers to prayer may need to hear of Jacob’s wrestling with the angel (Genesis 24:24-30); of Moses arguing with God (Exodus 4:1-17); of Gideon and the fleece (Judges 6:36-40); the story of David praying for protection from Saul (see 1 Samuel 22 and Psalm 51).
Those who need forgiveness should hear of David’s sins, his pleas for forgiveness and his responses (see 2 Samuel 11-12 and Psalm 51); of Peter’s denial of Christ (Matthew 26:69-75) and his reinstatement (John 21); and especially of Jesus’ death and resurrection, who loved us so much He was willing to go the way of the cross and suffer unspeakable pain and agony so we could spend eternity with Him in heaven. (See Matthew 27-28; Mark 15-16; Luke 23-24; and John 19-20.)
Is there someone who is struggling with an illness? Tell that person the story of God’s love to Naaman (2 Kings 5); of Jesus’ compassion on the multitudes (Matthew 14:13-14); any story of His healing miracles (Matthew 15:21-30; Mark 1:29-34 and 3:1-5; Luke 8:43-48); or the words of Psalm 30 or Ezekiel 34:11-16.
Are there any in conflict or trouble? Tell the story of King Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20); of Hannah (1 Samuel 1:1-18); of Peter’s delivery from prison (Acts 12:1-18); and the words from Isaiah 43:1-2.
Someone who waits can hear of Abraham’s faithfulness (see Genesis 12:1-5 and 21:1-7); or Naomi’s story (the book of Ruth); or hear Psalm 27.
Those who need direction for their life should hear the stories of Jacob (especially Genesis 28); of Gideon (Judges 6); of Esther (especially Esther 4); of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1); of Dorcas (Acts 9:36-42); and God’s words in Jeremiah 29:11-13.
Each of these stories relate God’s faithfulness, His compassion, His patience and love, His kindness and mercy. We can touch people’s lives with God’s story–His story of grace and goodness not only to those who lived “back then,” but as John wrote, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13).
Pray: “Heavenly Father, may Your Kingdom come. You desire that all people come to a knowledge of the truth. Your heart longs for those who are lost in sin and darkness to be brought into the light. Use us, dear Father, to shine a light in the darkness of someone’s life through Your story–the story of Your love and faithfulness to Your people throughout the ages. Give us hearts like Yours so we may know the pain of others. Give us the longing to tell them the Good News of Jesus. Give us the words to say, the truths to speak for the sake of Your Son Jesus and the growth of Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.