Kenneth L. Samuel: What's Your Story?
"Since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you..." - Luke 1:3
I love story-telling. Especially group story-telling, when one person in the group begins a story and each person in the group continues the story based on the narrative of the previous story teller.
In order to be a vibrant participant in group story-telling, one must listen closely to what the previous story teller(s) have said and then incorporate one's own creative/insightful/whimsical twists into the story line. This keeps the story alive and gives the one who continues the story afterwards something interesting to work with.
Many Bible historians believe that Luke, the young assistant and companion of the Apostle Paul, was a Gentile convert to Christianity of Syrian descent. Upon becoming a Christian, Luke inherited the great story of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, with origins in the call upon Abraham to leave his native country of Iraq in search of a Promised Land.
Luke inherited a great story. But Luke understood that as long as he and his contemporaries were seeking to relate the gospel story to the relevancy of their own lives, the story was not complete. So Luke considered it quite appropriate to continue telling the story in his own words, based on his own experience and viewed through the lenses of his own life.
The story has now been given to you and me. If it is to stay relevant, it must be infused with a real sense of our own passion, experience and expression.
It's our turn.
Prayer
God, thank you for the story I've been given. Now help me to make it my own. Amen.