By Pastor Nate Powell
When you’re watching a movie or reading a book, who is the star of the story? Sometimes you just know because they are the person who is on the poster of the movie or the cover of the book. Sometimes you know because they have an easily recognizable name like Indiana Jones or Junie B. Jones. Sometimes you know because they are the star because they are in nearly every scene and the story centers on them.
When it comes to talking about salvation and telling the story of how you came to follow Jesus, how do you tell that story? And who is the star of your story?
Often, when I meet people and get to really know them as a pastor, I ask them how they came to follow Jesus and call him savior. What I find is that if they claim Jesus and the name of Christian, there are often two different stories.
One of those stories is a story about a sinner who needed a savior. That story centers on the goodness and grace of Jesus, who received that sinner back and made him/her into a new creation, and gave them purpose and new life. The story of their faith in Jesus isn’t always centered on a Damascus Road salvation event, but it is often centered on a testimony of a difficulty Jesus led them thru or how the will of God has played out in their life because of following Jesus.
The other of those stories is about a pretty good person who became “gooder”. (I know that’s not a word, but I think you get the drift.) They’ll sell me on where they went to church. Who their parents or pastor were. When they were baptized. How good their attendance has been at church.
At the center of one story is Jesus. The center of the other story is self. And it often speaks to tell me what I need to know of a person’s faith and where their relationship is with Jesus Christ. When it comes to the Harvest that is ahead for the church, the harvest of people turning to Christ, that harvest will come because we have been consistent in proclaiming the Good News of Jesus. Both in preaching his story, and in telling the story of what He has done in us.
- Do I have a story to tell of what Jesus has done for me and in me?
- Does my faith exist to make me look good, or for Jesus to be seen as supreme and glorious?
- Does my faith story help others to pat me on the back, or to see clearly the forgiveness and new life that is in Jesus?
Paul set the standard for every Christian when he proclaimed: “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Gal 6:14) Paul knew that the name of Jesus was to be supreme, and that he is supremely good. So when we tell our stories, if we exist to make less of ourselves and much of him, he should be the star of our story.
If Jesus isn’t the star of your story, turn to Jesus and humble yourself before him. Let John’s prayer become yours: “He must increase, and I must decrease.” (John 3:30). Humble yourself before him, that he would lift you up. (James 4:10)
So tell your story. If it’s a Gospel story, Jesus will be the star.
Serving Jesus with you and for you,
Pastor Nate