“It seems to me,” Stan began, “that each one of us who has come to faith is supposed to have a story to tell.”
“What kind of story?” I asked.
“About what God has done and is doing in our lives,” Stan said. “And I think it is supposed to be a long story.”
“A long story?” I replied. “Why do you say that?”
“Well,” Stan responded, “I saw that in the account of what happened with the apostle Paul and his companions when they returned to Antioch.”
“What happened?” I asked.
“They told the church in Antioch what had been going on while they were traveling around preaching the gospel.”
Continuing, Stan added, “And they had a long story to tell. I think it’s supposed to be the same with me.”
“In what way?” I asked.
“The Book of Acts,” Stan replied, “says that when Paul and the others returned, they told the disciples in Antioch about all that God had done with them, and that they spent a long time with those disciples. To me, that means it was a long story about all that God had done.”
“And you think it is to be the same with you?” I asked.
“Sure do,” Stan replied. “If I’m open to be used by God for what He wants to accomplish in and through me, I will have a story to tell others and, by the grace of God, it will be a long one because God was able to do a lot in and through me.”
“If it’s a long story,” I replied, “might it get boring?”
“I don’t think so,” Stan said, “if it’s told the way God intends!”
Concluding, he added, “And the story will be told the way God intends if I follow His lead in telling the story of how He allowed me to be a part of what He was doing. It’s His story, not mine! I just get to tell it.”
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And from there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished. And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they spent a long time with the disciples. Book of the Acts of the Apostles 14:26 – 28.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you want me to have a story to tell about what you have done in and through me. Thank you, too, that you want that story to be a long one because of all you have done. I confess that too often I do not have a story to tell because I have chosen to not be available for you to use me for your purposes. Please help me in following your lead so that you can and do use me as you intend. And help me in telling the story so that others may be opened to see you more deeply and want also to have a story to tell about you and what you have done in and through them. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Do you have a story to tell about what God has done in and through you? If not, why? If you do have a story to tell, do you want to tell it? Why or why not? Do you believe that if you have a story and do tell it to others that may help them to want also to have a story to tell? Have you ever grown tired of listening to such a story that other people have told you? If so, have you considered why? Such storytelling can have a positive impact on others if it is done as God leads. Would you like that? If so, do you know how to do it?
Waiting for the Train 