THE POWER OF A GOOD STORY

I love a good story: Agatha Christie who-done-its, Fairy Tales, Memoirs, Greek tragedies, C.S. Lewis epics…  To this day, I remain fascinated by the magic, mystery, and teaching moments of good fiction.  

There is an art to story telling.  If it is done correctly, it can serve as a mechanism to train, educate and entertain.

Jesus likewise understands the value of a good story.  The New Testament is full of wonderful Parables that elucidate God’s promises.

4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable:  

5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”

When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,

“‘though seeing, they may not see;

    though hearing, they may not understand.’[a]  Luke 8:4-10

Admittedly, I have needed to read some Parables more than once to really understand them.  Thankfully, whenever Jesus presents a new Parable, He will take time to explain the meaning.

11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.  Luke 8:11-15

God’s WORD is given to all.  

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

We are tasked with reading the WORD and turning it over and over in our minds until we understand it.  It is up to us to incorporate the WORD into our lives.  

The Word of God can be dense, baffling and confusing.  But, we are not alone.  God has promised that if we seek after HIM, he will reveal his truths to us.

7“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  Mathew 7:7-8

When you read the WORD of God ask for guidance and for a right mind to receive, understand and correctly apply the WORD of God to your life.

Remember we are called to be a Perfect people.  

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.  Matthew 5:48

But perfection does not mean to live without sin.  It means to be spiritually trained.  And, you cannot be spiritually trained without a thorough knowledge of the WORD of God.

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.  Ephesians 6: 10-20

The Battle is the Lord’s.  But we must do our part to gear up for the challenges ahead.  

This is a promise, darling.