POST 47: Know God’s Story so You Can Go in God’s Story
POST 47
Know God’s Story so You Can Go in God’s Story
There’s a story told in Luke 24 about two friends walking from one town to the next. They recently had witnessed disturbing events. Their leader was executed—the leader they were counting on to bring lasting change to their people. As they walk together, their faces reflect the swirl of negative emotions inside—devastation, confusion, loss.
Suddenly, a man appears out of nowhere. He asks them what they’re talking about, and they can’t believe he doesn’t know. Everyone either saw it with their own eyes or heard about it from those who were there. They begin to recount to him who their leader was and why he was handed over to a violent death.
But wait, there’s more . . .
They also tell him that some women from their group saw angels who told them their leader is actually alive!
But there’s no way that’s true . . .
Plot Twist
They don’t know it yet, but the stranger they’re talking to is actually their leader. The women were right! He’s alive! And he’s right there with them.
He chooses not to reveal himself just yet, but what he does is maybe more valuable. He begins to tell them God’s story from the beginning and how everything that has happened was foretold in the Scriptures. As he speaks, the puzzle pieces start to come together in their minds. They start to recognize God’s story and how it all fits together.
Soon their eyes are opened, and they realize that the man they’re talking to is Jesus.
They’re overjoyed! But in an instant, he’s gone.
Do you wonder why Jesus disappeared like that? Why he didn’t stay to continue explaining or even just hang out? Perhaps he left because he knew they were ready. Now that they understood God’s story, they were ready to go in God’s story.
And that’s exactly what they did. They got up and ran back to Jerusalem. They couldn’t wait to tell the rest of the disciples all they had experienced. God’s story was true—Jesus himself had enlightened them—this was all part of God’s plan from the very beginning.
God’s love for creation. God’s purpose for creation. God’s plan to rescue creation.
If you want to know and move forward in your purpose, it’s necessary to know God’s story first. It’s all there. Being equipped with that understanding will help sustain you as you discover and live out your purpose. Instead of walking down the road feeling devastated, confused, and lost, you’ll have your heart set on fire.
READING GOD’S WORD
They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts on fire when he spoke to us along the road and when he explained the scriptures for us?”
They got up right then and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying to each other, “The Lord really has risen! He appeared to Simon!” Then the two disciples described what had happened along the road and how Jesus was made known to them as he broke the bread. . . .
Jesus said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law from Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. He said to them, “This is what is written: the Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and a change of heart and life for the forgiveness of sins must be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:32–35, 44–48)
REFLECT AND RESPOND
Journaling Questions
What do you know about God’s story?
How much would you say God is part of the way you see your story now? On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 being “not much” and 10 being “completely”), how much does your faith influence your story?
What would it take to encourage you to be ready to go in God’s story?
God, thank you for inviting me to know your story and to go in your story. You have an intentional purpose for my life. The more I know who you are and what your purpose is, the more I will be equipped to live out what I was created to do. Thank you for giving us what we need to live out your story. In Jesus’ name, amen.
SOMETHING TO TRY
The story of Scripture can seem disjointed. Many people see the Old Testament and New Testament and assume they have little to do with each other. But the Bible is actually one big story—God’s story. Jesus affirms this when he says that all Scripture testifies about who he is (v. 44). Jesus fulfills God’s story.
Sometimes the big story of God is summarized in the Bible itself. Read the story of Stephen in Acts 6:8–8:2. Stephen was a disciple of Jesus who had a good grasp on the story of God. While he lost his life because he was bold enough to share this story, his death was not in vain. In fact, the message of Jesus began to spread beyond Jerusalem because of his death. Consider what stands out to you in Stephen’s retelling of God’s story.
THE TAKEAWAY
When you know God’s story, you can go in God’s story—and be better equipped to live out God’s purpose for your life.