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Posts Tagged ‘story’

Finding Messiah

Posted in Time Up to Pentecost, tagged , , , , on May 12, 2009| Leave a Comment »

John 1:41
The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).

We have lost the wonder of discovery. Unlike us, the disciples as well as all of the Jewish people of that time, were waiting for the Messiah. It was prophesied that he would come and each generation looked for the signs of his coming.

In some ways, I am reminded of the personal joy and even ecstasy that many African-Americans felt about Barack Obama. The wonder of it all when it finally happened: an African-American lifted to the highest office.

John describes Andrew as the first disciple to follow after Jesus. After spending a day with him, he runs to his brother with his news of finding the Messiah, the one foretold, the beginning of something unknown and the transformation of their world.

When we find Messiah in our own lives, we are changed forever. There is wonder in that message, our personal story of discovery. Who will you tell today?

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One of the Others

Posted in Time Up to Pentecost, tagged , , , , , , on April 28, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Luke 24:9-10
When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. [emphasis mine]

Are you just among the others? There are such a lot of “big names” out there, the “stars” of Christendom or even in our local churches… you know, those obvious leaders of the church, the worship team, the choir director, the pastor, the lay leader, etc. And so often, we feel as though our small contribution to the big picture is unworthy of mentioning.

But I tell you today, the Lord is lifting up “the others.” Perhaps they are not mentioned by name, but they were there! The others who went with the Mary’s and Joanna to the tomb… they were there. They saw the angels, they saw the empty tomb, they had a story to tell. And the others who were with the Eleven… they heard the story, they communed together despite their fears, they were there. Who knows, perhaps they also ran to the tomb.

Sometimes, it’s important just to show up. We will never know what will happen… but if God speaks, we need to be present to hear. We need to be ready to “witness” what we see and hear. Your story is important. Your witness is important. Let us be present today to see God’s hand.

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Go and Tell

Posted in Lent, tagged , , , , on April 12, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Matthew 28:5-8
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples…” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

It’s all quite simple really. Tell YOUR story. Tell what you see and hear and taste.

So often, we want to tell a story someone else has told, or tell what we have “learned” from what we have read. But I say, the most powerful story is our own story… the story of who we are in Christ and what He has done (or is doing) in us. This is a reality that cannot be rejected because it is ours… it is personal.

Why were the women the first to see the empty tomb? Because they were the least likely to have orchestrated it. They were the steadfast ones at the cross. They could be trusted to do as they were asked: Go and tell!

These Lenten devotions have been my way to tell… to tell the story that God has been revealing to me in His Word and in my heart. May the Lord count me faithful in this small task and bless the morrow.

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