by Trevor on 1 Sep &Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:40:07 +000007q0000002010;10
This morning I am sitting outside at Starbucks reading and praying for people in our church. Now normally I would throw in my ear buds and tune out the world around me, but for some reason I noticed there is a pastor from one of the area churches sitting and sharing his story with a lady wanting to give her life to Christ. I have to tell you that I have been compelled by what I have eavesdropped on. (Don’t judge, you do it too)
His story is one that I am sure Hollywood would love to have for a script. It would be a number one box office hit. It is full of intrigue, famous people, drugs, and glitz. There is a dramatic conversion experience that almost makes Paul’s conversion in the book of Acts look like a typical Sunday walk down the aisle. I have to admit that I have been completely entrenched in listening to this story this morning. It is an incredible story. The life change is unreal. He is now a pastor and God’s used his story I am sure to lead countless people to Christ. Here is what made me stop and wonder if the approach was to much for the one he was sharing it with.
When he finished the individual looked at him and said, “There is no way my story compares to that. I just want to know that Christ loves me. Does he Love me?”
WOW!!!
It made me stop in my tracks as I tried to not stare or look up from my table. Now listen I am all for dramatic stories of life change. Parts of my story have been that way too. But I wonder if sometimes we tell the over the top story thinking that it will draw people to Christ or if we tell it in hopes that it will draw them to us. The reality is that what the world really needs to hear is not how dramatic our story is, but that Christ simply loves them dramatically.
I have been guilty of trying to allow my story to overshadow the story of Christ. It has never been intentional, but if I were to really examine my heart I know it to be true. In fact my guess is, is that many of us have done the same. Today my hope and prayer for all of us is that we would simply show and tell the world that Christ LOVES them and their story…drama or not!!!
How can you share with the world that Christ loves them today?
…
I was talking with one of my students one day about the role that God has played in her life and what that means to her and those around her…and at one point she made the comment that her story wasn’t radical. That she has just had a simple life…nothing has happened to her like stuff has happened to me. (I guess she was remembering a time where i had shared my testimony) I just remember my heart aching for her in that moment because she had this feeling that her story wasn’t good enough and that somehow it wasn’t going to bring people to Christ and I almost had the feeling that she could possibly venture to think that God might not think that she was as important because her upbringing has been smooth sailing so far. I simply looked at her and said, “Your story, your life, and how God has provided for you means more to me than you will ever know! Because of you and families like yours I know that it is possible for parents to stay married and for fathers to love their daughters! Your story gives me hope that one day I will marry a man that loves the Lord and loves me and one day I can have children and raise them in this amazing, loving environment that you have experienced…Your story is more radical than you know to someone like me!” My hope is that people will always see their story as something radical because when your life collides with Christ and you grow to know Him more and more intimately there is just nothing average about it…And it doesn’t take a made for TV movie kind of life for God to love His people.