03 Aug What’s Your Story

Years ago, I had a co-worker who would greet me almost every morning with, “What’s the story, morning glory?”  I was reminded of that recently when I read a devotional about the importance of Christ-followers being prepared to share their story. It identified two separate elements of our faith story that I previously hadn’t considered:

1. How Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, brought you to a point of responding to God’s love and receiving forgiveness and eternal life.
2. Your story of healing and deliverance from what you once were.

That first one, in my opinion, is the more important of the two. It is the one someone I am ministering to is struggling with, greatly. They accept Jesus is who He says He is. They simply cannot, as they put it, surrender their whole lives to Jesus and accept on “blind faith” that Jesus will do all He said He would do. This is where I think a passage in Ephesians 2 is critical:

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)

Commentators and scholars are divided over whether Paul is referring to grace only or grace and faith when he says, “this is not from yourselves.” I’m in the camp that he means both. Gotquestions.org explains this well:

By knowing our saving faith comes from God alone, it should encourage Christians to “not think of yourself more highly than you ought,” but remember God decides the measure of faith each one receives (Romans 12:3). The apostle Paul gives an example of the godly humility believers should have when they contemplate their own faith: “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 1:13–14). Paul understood faith in Christ was given to him because of God’s grace in spite of his own sinful life (1 Corinthians 4:7).

And Paul used his own conversion story when he was defending himself to authorities when being persecuted for sharing the gospel:

 6 “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’

8 “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. “ ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. 9 My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me. 10 “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “‘Get up,’ the Lord said, “and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’ 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me. Acts 22:6-11 (NIV)

Paul’s transition from religious rules zealot to a faith-filled Christ-follower was entirely the work of Jesus. The same is true for us. Paul then goes on to discuss the healing and deliverance he received from Jesus.

What about you? What is your “Road to Damascus” story? It might not be a single moment as it was with Paul (mine happens to be a single moment as well, but everyone’s story is unique). How did Jesus, figuratively or literally bring you to your knees? If you haven’t given it much thought, I encourage you to have your story ready when someone asks. God may be preparing to bless you and someone else richly!

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, 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

What’s your story, morning glory?

Pastor Jerry Bader