The Storyteller

God has long wanted us to see His great love for us. Scripture, His holy word, is the primary way we learn about Him, as the Holy Spirit stirs in us to not just read His word, but be deeply convicted, encouraged, and learn more about who He is and what He has done. This past weekend, I was re-convicted on my need to be surrounding myself in the Word throughout my day and in as many forms as possible. I should be reading it, memorizing it, quoting it, listening to it, singing it and sharing it with others. In fact, there are a lot more verses about being vocal in our worship, than their are about being "quiet", despite the popular name for personal bible studying being called a "quiet time". "Sing", "shout" and "rejoice" are used 347 times in scripture, while "quiet" and "still" are only used 32 times in all of scripture in reference to our posture before God. I'm not saying that we don't need time of quiet and stillness before the Lord. In our day and age of constant communication and distraction, I think we need it now more than ever. But living out our worship of God is something that calls us to rejoice and overflow with our love for the Lord in a way that entices others to see why there is a fire inside of us. There is a great old hymn, "I Love to Tell the Story", that beautifully walks through our desire to tell the story to ourselves, to those who haven't heard and to rejoice in it with other believers. The refrain points to heaven, where we spend eternity praising God for His greatness. Read these lyrics below and think about how that would look in our day to day lives.


I love to tell the story of unseen things above, of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love. I love to tell the story, because I know 'tis true; it satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.  

I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems, than all ,the golden fancies, of all our golden dreams. I love to tell the story, it did so much for me; and that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.  

I love to tell the story;'tis pleasant to repeat, what seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.  I love to tell the story, for some have never heard the message of salvation from God's own holy Word.  

I love to tell the story, for those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.  And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song, 'twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.

Refrain: I love to tell the story. Twill be my theme in glory. To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

Yesterday in my quiet time in Hosea, Psalms and Hebrews, I saw an amazing story form. I started in Hosea 2, where God describes how Israel has been a harlot, pursuing other things and other gods. The people of God were more enticed by what they could see, and touch, and hold, than the glory of God that had led them out of Egypt, through the wilderness and into the promise land. The book is written right before they go into captivity, at one of the lowest points in Israel's history, where they have been warned again and again but  continue to worship idols and live like the pagan people around them. Psalm 132 is a Psalm of Ascents - the author calling to the Lord to be faithful to the covenant promise He made to David. But as we read in Hebrews 7 and 8, Israel was not faithful to the Lord. We couldn't keep the covenant on our own. It failed, not because of God letting us go, but rather because of our running away from Him.

But the story continues in a way that no one would ever imagine. God sees us for who we really are - stained with sin and guilt - and promises a new solution. Later in Hosea 2, God promises His people (and even the people outside of the nation of Israel) a new covenant where we are His bride. He comes to us in compassion and eternal lovingkindess and brings us to Himself. How??? How can this be??? Only through the blood of Christ. The promise to David was not to be fulfilled by our obedience, but by Christ's perfect life and sacrificial death. Christ is the only answer. He pursues us at infinite cost to Himself and makes us His own. It truly is amazing grace. The great hymn "And Can it Be" says "And can it be, that I should gain an interest in my Saviors blood. Died He for me, who caused His pain, for me, who Him to death pursued. Amazing love, how can it be, that Thou my God, shouldst die for me"

We ran from Him. And when He came to earth, we called for His death. But He pursued us; through death and hell, He pursued us. There is no greater story. Learn it. Live it. Share it with the world.