WHAT IS YOUR STORY?

Men have always been great story tellers yet it seems that instead of telling the kind of stories that encourage and mentor those they come in contact with, they are telling stories focused on self-centered, self-focused topics.  If not those topics then they are telling their “poor, poor me” stories about how rough their life is and how others have treated them unfairly or inappropriately.  Some have gone so far as to tell stories to harm or hurt other people.  It is a rare occasion that you find a man that is telling the stories of how great and awesome our God is and how blessed they are by having a personal relationship with Him.  Scripture reminds us “The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.[1]  Overall, men are failing miserably at telling the most important story we have been given and that it is the story of mercy and grace provided by our Heavenly Father.

Big Daddy Weave, a popular Contemporary Christian musician, has a beautiful song entitled “My Story”. The lyrics humble me and inspire me to tell the most important story of all stories.  The lyrics are”

If I told you my story you would hear Hope that wouldn’t let go
And if I told you my story you would hear Love that never gave up
And if I told you my story you would hear Life, but it wasn’t mine

If I should speak then let it be Of the grace that is greater than all my sin
Of when justice was served and where mercy wins
Of the kindness of Jesus that draws me in
Oh to tell you my story is to tell of Him

If I told you my story; You would hear victory over the enemy
And if I told you my story You would hear freedom that was
won for me
And if I told you my story You would hear Life overcome the grave

If I should speak then let it be Of the grace that is greater than all my sin
Of when justice was served and where mercy wins
Of the kindness of Jesus that draws me in
Oh to tell you my story is to tell of Him

This is my story, this is my song Praising my savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song Praising my savior all the day long

For the grace that is greater than all my sin
Of when justice was served and where mercy wins
Of the kindness of Jesus that draws me in
Oh to tell you my story is to tell

For the grace that is greater than all my sin
Of when justice was served and where mercy wins
Of the kindness of Jesus that draws me in
Oh to tell you my story is to tell of Him
Oh to tell you my story is to tell of Him

This is my story, this is my song
Praising my savior all the day long[2]

          Peter tells us “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”[3]  WOW!  Always be prepared to give an answer.  That means it doesn’t matter where you are going, who you will be talking with, or who else may be around, we must be ready to give the reason for the hope that lies within us.  God’s men should be prepared to do this unashamedly, boldly, courageously, joyfully … I could go on and on with descriptors but I think you get the point.

            I can hear some of you now saying “but I don’t really know how to do that” or “I would be embarrassed to just come out and talk about Jesus.”  I think the best place for us to go for the answer is to these dilemmas is God’s Word.  His Word says “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.  You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!  For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”[4] 

Telling your story is no more than giving God praise and recognition for the mercy and grace He has shown to you.  Looking for those divine appointments where you are given the opportunity by the Holy Spirit to share something with another person that may change their lives forever and all you have to do is tell your story!  Don’t focus so much on where you’ve been but where you’re headed.  Don’t focus on where the person you are talking to may be but where God can take them.  God accepts us right where we are and then He can take us where He wants us to be if we will simply be obedient.  We have all sinned (Romans 3:23) so our story is not about the other person but about how our lives changed when we had that spiritual experience of accepting Jesus Christ as our Personal Savior.

So what is your story?  Are you telling the most important story that can ever be told?  Isaiah nailed it when he said “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”[5]  We all grow battle weary in this world yet we must not miss the opportunity to be renewed by the Lord to continue to battle on His behalf.  “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”[6]  You see we already have the victory no matter what Satan or this world may bring; WE HAVE VICTORY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST!  “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.  This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.  In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”[7]  This passage from the book of Acts sums up what should be our story regardless of the consequences:  “I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.  However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”[8]  AMEN AND AMEN!

[1] Romans 5:20&21.  All scripture used in this article is taken from the NIV translation of the Holy Bible unless otherwise noted.

[2] Publishing: © 2015 Word Music, LLC, Weave Country (ASCAP) / Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Open Hands Music (SESAC) (All rights on behalf of itself and Open Hands Music adm. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC), Writers: Mike Weaver / Jason Ingram

[3] 1 Peter 3:15

[4] Romans 5:1-11

[5] Isaiah 40:31

[6] 1 Corinthians 15:57

[7] 1 John 5:1-5

[8] Acts 20:23&24