WATCHWORD:
Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation. 8 I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—but let them not turn to folly. 9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. 10 Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other. Psalm 85:1-7-10
Meditation:
What Follows
How’s your memory? What was the name of the popular radio program hosted by Paul Harvey? Now think about it, it started in 1976, and you listened on ABC radio network. I know I know; you got it on the first mention of Harvey’s name… ‘The Rest of the Story’.
The Bible is filled with lead-ins that could create a good story. My first published book, A Life for Barabbas, was just such a story. I created a fiction ‘rest of the life’ story for Barabbas.
There are many others; How about Mary of Magdalene, what happened to her after the resurrection? We could complete the life stories for the likes of Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, the Centurion whose little daughter was healed by Jesus.
There is a common thread that runs through each biblical “Rest of the Story”, story. In each one there has been an encounter with Jesus because of what follows. We often don’t see the rest of the story because of a variety of reasons; our own doubts about that person, or it’s hard for us to imagine him being a Christian, or we acted and moved on with our life.
So many of Jesus’ Commandments leave us wondering about some of the characters. When we go and do likewise, when we lift that fallen person up, or help another, we move on with the rest of our lives, but that person we helped has a life we know nothing about, but we can be sure that your reaching out sticks with them; a seed planted.
It’s hard for us to imagine that we are the hands of Christ, that we are expressing the heart of Christ, that we are doing the work that Christ has led us to do. You cannot truly encounter Jesus and be left the same.
It doesn’t matter the life you had led before, once you encounter Jesus, you are changed. And the little things of life; a smile, reaching out, a friendly word of encouragement. All these are reflections of Jesus as you live your life.
But what follows does not end with the impact on the one who has encountered Jesus, the impact continues because of what others see in us and they, in turn, reflect the same encounter that changed us.
Tell your story:
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 it’s true, it satisfies my longing as nothing else can do, I love to tell the story it will be my theme in glory, to tell the old old story of Jesus and his love. Look carefully, it’s your story, as well.
Closing Prayer:
I follow you, Lord, even though I do not know if I am following the way you would have me do, but I do the best that I can because I know that pleases you. Lead on in Jesus’ name. Amen
