This does not mean I will not listen but there is a discernment of facts versus fabrication that must be applied. Kids love to tell stories…the bigger the better! One of my first graders was a phenomenal storyteller. The kids eyes would grow big as he would tell them about how he got to school via his dad’s jet. His dad brought him every day in his jet, landed it on the playground and then took off for another country. “You can’t see it, because his jet is invisible.” (Said with rolling eyes to the ceiling.) Well, sure. This little boy began with a small kernel of truth. His dad was a pilot, stationed at Tinker Air Base, which was a mile from our school. But that was all the truth there was to his story.

When we tell our story, there is no need to exaggerate what God has done IN us and how He saved us. The story is about HIM not us. If we keep that as our focus, then His story in us can be used to point the way to Him for others God puts in our path! We need to get the story right! Only Truth…as the Person of Jesus Christ!

In today’s passage a man is possessed by a mob of demons. (We talked about this last month as Matthew told us the story.) The demons KNOW Who they are dealing with when Jesus comes to the man. They asked to be put into nearby pigs grazing and rooting around in a field. Jesus does just that. Later the healed man begs to go with Jesus and be a follower. Jesus would not let him! Here’s where we pick up Jesus story through the man…

Mark 5, The Message

18-20 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the demon-delivered man begged to go along, but he wouldn’t let him. Jesus said, “Go home to your own people. Tell them your story—what the Master did, how he had mercy on you.” The man went back and began to preach in the Ten Towns area about what Jesus had done for him. He was the talk of the town.

I’m impressed this morning by “Go home” and “Tell them your story–what the Master did, how he had mercy on you.” Am I telling the right story, O Lord? Are the facts right? Do I exaggerate any parts? Is my story centered on YOU? Our life stories need to be less about our sin and more about HIS MERCY! That’s the place to begin to tell the story of Jesus Christ and His Love.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for teaching us through Your Word about Your story in us because of what You have done in each of us. Your mercy and grace are indescribable, but we keep trying. Help us to stick to the Truth, to the facts, and help someone else know you more because of Your story of mercy in us. In Jesus Name, Amen

And I’m singing…”to tell the old, old story of Jesus and HIs love…”

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 ’tis true;
it satisfies my longings
as nothing else can do.
Refrain:
I love to tell the story,
’twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.