That's My Story and I'm Sticking To It

For Friday, August 5

That's My Story and I'm Sticking To It

Ezra 1-2:70; 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5; Psalm 27:7-14; Proverbs 20:22-23 (click to read)

(I Corinthians 2) 1 Friends, when I came and told you the mystery that God had shared with us, I didn't use big words or try to sound wise. 2 In fact, while I was with you, I made up my mind to speak only about Jesus Christ, who had been nailed to a cross.

Paul is clear at the beginning of this letter to the Corinthians that he presented a simple message about Jesus and God's work through Jesus and this message was effective for the Corinthians. Many have used these passages to say that the message about God and Christ should always be simple. But in Acts 17, Paul is anything but simple in his message to Athenians; he has a complex message in Romans chapters 1-5; and Hebrews has a very complicated message about Jesus Christ. The point is, it takes all kinds of approaches and God's work needs them all. Some of us are good at simple, direct descriptions of the work of Christ in our lives and our world, and those who have a different way of looking at it should cheer them on. Some of us can address the philosophical issues and questions in others, and those with simple, direct messages should encourage them and pray for their impact. Jesus is seeking all people, and the witness of each believer is vital because we are different people. So I need to be ready to tell my version - and you need to be ready to tell yours. Or someone is not going to get to hear about Jesus in the way that meets their needs and their filters.

Lord - I am so grateful You have a team of people to share Your Good News in the many ways the others need to hear. Help me to be fully capable with my version of Your Story, and I pray for all my teammates that they, too, will be ready and capable.

(You can download the Pathway 2011 Bible reading list here.)