Behind
the Door of a Divine Story… was the theme of the dynamic Beth Moore’s women’s
conference held this weekend at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York. At
first glance, it was an unusual topic, but as Beth revealed the points of Jesus’
powerful storytelling, it came into focus. She started out by declaring that
there is a MYSTERY behind the door of all of Jesus parables and walked us
through seven parables in the gospel of Luke. We see in a glass darkly and can
only know part of the divine meaning of this earthly life and the stories Jesus
told. The blank spaces, where we don’t understand, are where Faith grows. It is
like the parable of the farmer who goes out and sows seed in the ground. He
spreads the seed, but only understands a small part of what goes on underground
to produce a plant. We cannot fully understand how God transforms a life, but like
a seed, part of it is a hidden work underground. When we spend time in prayer, that
work is accomplished in our spirit. We often water that seed with our tears as
we wonder what God is doing in our life, but He is accomplishing His will! We
just need to saw seed.
What else lies behind the story door? There is REVELATION to
those who are willing to study the Word of God. He bids us to pay attention and
to stay focused to hear and see the revelation in each story. We have to not
let the distractions take us away from our time in the Bible and with God. Next,
there is INVITATION in the story. God invites us into the wedding feast with Him.
When we are clothed with His wedding garments and righteousness through Jesus
Christ, we can celebrate with Him! And let me tell you we celebrated, both in
worship music and a mini dance party during the break. Anyone who knows me,
knows I love to dance and I certainly joined in and celebrated! Why not? Our
God had done amazing miracles in our lives!
The fourth point had everyone shaking their head in agreement.
Even though there is a fair amount of MANURE behind the story door, we can
enter in. We can let God use all the ugly and hurtful stuff to transform us. Like
the parable of the unfruitful fig tree, He also digs down around us. He unearths
the junk that keeps us from bearing fruit. Then He spreads manure to fertilize
the tree, that’s us. This is how Jesus wields His stories. He invites us in to
listen and then if we are willing to perceive what he is truly saying, we realize
the parallel to our own lives. We all have garbage, manure, that happens in our
life and God wants to get it out into the open so He can deal with it and heal
you. He also uses it to “fertilize” us so we can bear fruit.
We are also made to REJOICE in our trials and shake off the
junk of this world. Joy is the hallmark of the Christian and Satan is working
overtime to stress us out and destroy our joy. The parable of the prodigal Son invites
us into both parts of the story, as the prodigal, before we knew Christ and as
the other son, who judges the Father for rejoicing over the return of the
prodigal. Where do you stand? Are you a prodigal or stuck in legalism, religiosity
or pride?
Have you invested all you have for the KINGDOM and obtained
the pearl of great price and worth? I hope so, for “What no eye has seen, nor
ear has heard nor heart has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him
(1 Corin. 2:9). The kingdom is of great worth, beyond the treasures of the
earth.
Lastly and supreme above all is the story of JESUS. He is present
in every book of the Bible and the Supreme plan of God for redemption and
salvation. He is in Genesis from the beginning as the Word of God and appears often
in the pages of Isaiah who prophesies Jesus coming and his death on a cross. He
is given birth on the pages of the gospels and in the book of Revelation as the
only one worthy to open the scroll of the book. He will appear once again riding
on a cloud and will claim His own. The Bible is a powerful story from one page
to another and we are invited in to participate, to allow God to write His story
on and with our lives. I thank Beth Moore for inspiring me to write His story in
my life again.
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