A Story To Tell

When Jesus touches someone, there is a story to be told.  Those disciples of John the Baptist who left him to follow Jesus became a part of that community of people who had unique stories to tell about Jesus.  Such is also true of those guests at the wedding of Cana of Galilee, the merchants in the Temple, Nicodemus, the woman at Jacob's Well, the government official whose son was healed, the paralyzed man at the pool called Bethzatha, and all those who feasted on the fish and loaves from a child's lunch.  (John 1-6)    

Jesus had an impact on each one of them and each one of them had a different story to tell.  What is true of these characters in John's story of Jesus continues to be true of each one of us.  We all have a story and we each one have a different one.  No one's story is better than someone's else's.  It is simply our story.  Many years ago on a witness team traveling from the Asbury College Revival of 1970, a group of us went to a seminary to share our faith.  We were a bit apprehensive sharing before theology students who were surely going to be more in the know about Jesus stuff than were we.  The professor put us at ease by telling us, "Share your story.  It is yours.  It belongs to no one else. It is not something up for debate.  It is your story about your encounter with Christ."  

Obviously, it was an important word since I still remember the moment fifty four years later.    We not only are called to boldly tell our story about Christ, but we are to do it without fear.  Jesus was always telling folks, "Do not be afraid."  (John 6:20)  Jesus also spoke about speaking for Him in difficult situations.  "...do not worry about how you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say."  (Luke 12:11-12)  When Jesus tells us it is time to tell our story, let us do so with joy that we have a story to tell!