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"What's Your Story?"
by Pastor Matt Campbell
from a Selah Moment at Colonial Baptist Church
"So what's your story?” Has anyone ever asked you that question?
You love to answer that question don’t you? I do.
It gives me the opportunity to think about things, places, events, and people that I love.
I can talk about home, family, friends, high school, sports, funny moments, my first job, my first car, college, graduate school, trips, dating, and marriage - all the way to the today. The interesting thing is how I craft my story and what I leave out of "my story." I usually leave out anything that would make me look bad or bring me embarrassment. You do too, don't you.
Yet, most of us love to tell our stories.
It is possible though that you honestly do not like to tell your story. Your past is not one you enjoy rehearsing. Just speaking of your family and home causes great pain, and you actually wish you could forget. You tell your story in the quickest way possible just wanting to get out of the conversation. Sometimes you avoid the question entirely with a simple response that there is really not much to tell.
You do not love to tell your story.
Whether you love or hate to tell your story there may be a common element that is missing from our stories as we think about them and tell them. When, if ever, does Jesus Christ show up in your story?
See, I am challenged with the idea that many of us still think about our lives and our life stories apart from Christ. We easily forget or leave out some details. Oh, they are just small details, right?
Here are some parts I find myself leaving out and maybe you do too:
I was dead, but now I am alive because of Christ.
I regularly broke the law, but now my record has been fully cleared by the blood of Christ.
I voluntarily employed myself to a lawless man, but now I work for Christ who is honest in all things.
I used to live entirely for my pleasures and myself but now I am learning from Christ how to live for others to bring them joy.
Now here is the reality for us whether we love or hate to tell our story:
Christ makes your story worth telling, because Christ is your story.
For those of you who love to tell your story, think about your story today, and think about how Christ has truly made your story a story worth telling. Everything you have to say about yourself is really about His grace and mercy poured out in your life. Tell your story from the perspective of grace and your identity in Christ.
For you who hate to tell your story, be encouraged, yes even compelled today to think about your story and tell your story in light of Christ. It is because of Christ and His work of grace in your life that makes your story worth telling as well. Tell your story from the perspective of grace and your identity in Christ.
Jesus Christ: He is your story; He is your life; He is your song.
Recommended Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:11-29; 2:1-15; 3:1-4
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