Cool Story, Bro!

Scripture: Acts 13:31-32

"...and for many days [Jesus] appeared to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, and they are now his witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what God has promised to our ancestors he has fulfilled for us..."

Observation:

When Paul is invited to bring words of encouragement in the synagogue he is visiting, he begins with recounting stories that the assembly are familiar with. These are not Paul's stories, but stories of the people of God. In this way, Paul is saying that he is one of them. His story is their story. As such, the words of encouragement that go beyond the stories with which they are not as familiar can be received by them not as merely cool stories, but as stories for them.

Paul outlines the history and trajectory of God's record of working through individuals, families, tribes, a nation, judges, and kings for the salvation and redemption of God's people so that he can draw the attention of his hearers (including us) to how God has fulfilled that work in the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Application:

Here is one of the great paradoxes of our faith. The saving work of God for the whole cosmos has been achieved once and for all in Christ Jesus; yet, it is still being birthed into reality. The Kingdom is here, but not yet. Because of this reality, it is vital that we followers of the Way understand that this is our story; for we have a role to play in it. "...and they are now his witnesses to the people." You and I - we - are now the vessels that will bear this incredible new reality into all corners of the world.

It is a bit like, in Jesus, God has created the cure for the worst disease the world has ever known. In this metaphor, Jesus is like an immunization against sin, death and the devil. And we, we are the virus that has been changed (changed, re-arranged, different...no not the same) to bear the cure into all other diseased beings.  

We are not the cure. We bear the cure; but, that is no small job to be put off or neglected.

Today, I will focus on bearing the good news "that God so loved the whole world..." to the sick, the dying; the dazed and confused" in ways that help them see that this is their story too!

Prayer:

Healer of Our Every Ill, grant me grace, humility and boldness to let You be the cure while I hold the hands of those who tremble at the sight of needles. Amen.

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