The power of story

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Galatians 1:11-24

TO CHEW ON: "And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. But they were hearing only, 'He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.' And they glorified God in me." Galatians 1:22-24

Each one of us has a story of how we came to Jesus (if we have come to Him). In Galatians 1, Paul reminds the members of the churches in Galatia of his.

He starts out by expressing shock that some of them are turning away from faith in Christ to "a different gospel." How can you turn from something so obviously divinely inspired, he asks. Then he reminds them of how he first encountered Christ, stopped in his tracks by a light and a voice right in the middle of one of his church persecution trips.

I love hearing people's stories. No two are alike. And each one helps us understand more about the God who has won us too.

I recently attended the funeral of a cousin who accepted Christ as a child in Sunday School and never strayed from her faith. Her story is an illustration of God's ability to keep and satisfy someone through a whole lifetime.

My story shows I wasn't as steadfast. But the way God lovingly brought me back to Himself and spared me consequences I could have suffered is evidence of His goodness, and how that is as powerful a force in bringing us to Himself as is fear of judgment (Romans 2:4).

The story of Jungleman  (quoted under sections #1 and 3 within the review of the book  Spirit of the Rainforest: A Yanomamo Shaman's Story) shows how God can reach people in the remotest places and speak to them in ways they understand.

The story Cornelius Smith's conversion (father of Gypsy Smith) illustrates the Holy Spirit's power to convict.

What is your story? Do you willingly share it? Whether it's simple or dramatic, God can use your story, as He used Paul's, to bring glory to Himself.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for the many ways You draw people to Yourself. Help me to share my experience with others. May it bring glory to You. Amen.

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.