by David Brenneman
Tell me the story of Jesus,
write on my heart ev'ry word;
tell me the story most precious,
sweetest that ever was heard.
Tell how the angels in chorus
sang as they welcomed His birth,
“Glory to God in the highest!
Peace and good tidings to earth.”
Tell me the story of Jesus,
write on my heart ev'ry word;
tell me the story most precious,
sweetest that ever was heard.
Fasting alone in the desert,
tell of the days that are past,
how for our sins He was tempted,
yet was triumphant at last.
Tell of the years of His labor,
tell of the sorrow He bore,
He was despised and afflicted,
homeless, rejected, and poor.
Tell me the story of Jesus,
write on my heart ev'ry word;
tell me the story most precious,
sweetest that ever was heard.
Tell of the cross where they nailed Him,
writhing in anguish and pain;
tell of the grave where they laid Him,
tell how He liveth again.
Love in that story so tender,
clearer than ever I see.
Stay, let me weep while you whisper,
love paid the ransom for me.
Tell me the story of Jesus,
write on my heart ev'ry word;
tell me the story most precious,
sweetest that ever was heard.
-Fanny Crosby 1880. "Tell Me the Story of Jesus".
Something that we were told in yesterday's sermon certainly was illuminating to me. It's not really as difficult and as complicated to tell others about Jesus. Just relate what He's done and is doing in your life and why you believe that it's Jesus doing these things in you and for you. It doesn't matter, such as is my case, that you don't remember what a life was like before you came to Christ for salvation. Be sure OF that day and just share how the truths of Jesus has shaped your life ever since.
We all can tell a story of Jesus that's been getting written on our hearts as we go through this life we were given to live.
We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:10. We CAN and SHOULD see the hallmarks of His work in our lives if we're believing that we were saved by Him.
Jesus met us at the point of our need when He came at that particular moment in time. He's never left us for a single nanosecond or less. He's started a good work in us and will continue it until either He calls us home or we see the Rapture of the Church. "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6.
Telling of what has and is happening in your life that you attribute to the work of the Spirit is telling the story of Jesus.
Your story will be different from mine but that by no means will make it any less significant. Your story or mine won't be the same as Dr. David Jeremiah or Billy Graham or even Dr. Charles Stanley. That's ok too.
There's no formula or format that's the ideal when it comes to a personal testimony of the work of God in Christ Jesus in our lives.
Paul covers this in a letter to the Corinthian church. We are all different parts of the body of Christ. Each one is to do and be as they were called in Christ to be.
Every single story of every single life in Christ is wonderfully precious in the sight of God.
There are no insignificant stories of Jesus or of any child of God.
Oh Satan and his minions would LOVE to have you believe that there's no value to you sharing your life with Jesus to others. That's what he's tried to do for several thousand years. Getting Believers to shut up about their life in Christ.
Your life in Christ may or may not 'sound' like what we think is good and acceptable. In Jesus's eyes your conversion story is absolutely worthwhile and a joy to His heart.
So write about your life in Christ. My book is my at length story of Jesus in my life. It's the truth of what Jesus has been doing in me ever since that bright sunny Sunday after the church service when I was in the Pastors office meeting with the Elders and the Deacons.
Jesus began a good work in me and He will keep at it until either I am called home or the Rapture of the Church happens.
Our past, our now, our future is wrapped up in this truth: "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified." Romans 8:28-30.
Don't put your story down or deride it in any way. Your story is most precious in the eyes of your personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When we want the story of Jesus we want to hear everything. We are part of that everything in Christ.
Write it out, talk it out, the story of Jesus written in our hearts as we become more like Christ.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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