August 31: Tell us the old, old story

…the officials of the synagogue sent them a message, saying, "Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, give it." 16 So Paul stood up and with a gesture began to speak: "You Israelites, and others who fear God, listen. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. 18 For about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. 19 After… (Acts 13:14-19)

Rather than a specific phrase what grabbed my attention today was the overall answer Paul gives as a “word” of exhortation. His response continues from where I left off with a recounting of the general events in Israel from the Exodus through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

When asked for a word of exhortation Paul doesn’t offer a rousing sermon about how to live your life, or a charismatic encouragement to make it through the day. What Paul does is tell a story – the story – of God and God’s people. It is a story they all presumably know already. Yet this is what he wants to share as his word of exhortation: to recount the ways that God has provided for God’s people and most particularly the final provision of God’s son in Jesus Christ.

This drives home to me how much Jews are a storytelling people, and as descendants of the Jews we inherit that tradition. As much as we love doctrine, and belief statements like creeds and confessions, at the heart we are a people who know God in story. As you flip through Acts you can see several times where early Christians like Stephen and Peter and Paul engage in retelling the old and well known stories to talk about God. Not a system of beliefs – but a living, breathing, unfolding faith. It is in the unfolding story of God and creation that the people ground their faith, identity, and hope. So when they need a word of exhortation Paul tells them the story – the old, old story.

I just received an email the other day that said the Bible meant: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth (B-I-B-L-E)… however cute this may be, it just doesn’t strike me as what the Bible is about (never mind that there is much in it that isn’t anything close to basic). Foundationally what the Bible offers us is just what Paul tells these gathered Jews and God-fearers, that as we look through the stories of our ancestors we can see God at work for justice, peace, and love – offering wholeness to the people. As we see God at work in history than it reminds us that God is similarly at work in our lives – even when we cannot see it. We trust because generations before us have trusted. We hope, and in doing so we offer hope to the generations that come after us.

God is our story and we are God’s story, thanks be to God.

Have you spent time immersing yourself in the story of God?

Do you see yourself in the stories of the Bible… your struggles, hopes, brokenness and dreams?

Are you offering hope to the world by letting your life be a witness to God’s ongoing story?

Speaking God,
From the beginning you have spoken creation into being as a story. You walk through the chapters of our life and seek to make our stories sing of love and grace. Give us eyes to see you at work in our lives, and the strength of heart to offer hope to the world in the living of our lives. Amen.