The Bible stories we have been looking at (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and now Joseph) present people who are all walking the faith journey, but each story is unique. There are certainly some similarities; but it is the differences that makes the individual stories so facisinating.
In a simliar way, the stories of our faith journeys are alike in many ways but each story is unique. The line that sticks with me from this morning's sermon is "Don't give up Joseph, the story is not over yet." How badly we need that faith perspective when we are in the middle of a struggle and are not at all clear of how it will end. This is where the faith stories of Bible characters (and the people who sit around you at church) are so vital. We need to hear from people that have gone through the fire and come out on the other side. We need to hear those tales to reassure us that God is with us even when we can't see him or understand what he is doing.
I yearn for the day when my "faith shall be sight." That will be the day when faith is no longer necessary. While we live on this earth, however, we trust knowing that the story is not finished yet.
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
2 comments:
The power of our stories is phenomenal, and the importance of having the courage to tell it and the the desire to listen to the stories of others is vital. Have you read, "To Be Told" by Dan Allender? He is speaking of this very thing and how we have such a crucial role in the story God is telling with our lives and how it all unfolds. Awesome!
@ Hope:
I love your comment. I think also that God is telling us a story with each of our lives. We are designed to be part of a community, its just the way God wired us. So I have to ask, why? I think its just for that reason, so that we can encourge one another with our own faith stories, so we can learn from each other, and become stronger with God at the center of our hearts.
Check out any works by Brennan Manning. His story of redemption has been so encourging to my faith journey.
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