Ivan Illich brilliantly said, “Neither revolution nor reformation can ultimately change a society, rather you must tell a new powerful tale, one so persuasive that it sweeps away the old myths and becomes the preferred story, one so inclusive that it gathers all the bits of our past and our present into a coherent whole, one that even shines some light into the future so that we can take the next step forward. If you want to change a society, then you have to tell an alternative story.”
Over the last three weeks we have invited people to come and tell their story, each week people have been inspired, encouraged and I pray awakened to write their own story this side of eternity. We are all part of a once upon a time moment…a true story… that's directed by God the father, every one's story is connected to His story or put this way, ‘for everything absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him - The Message Col 1:16
Many followers of Christ and not yet followers forget or don't realize that they are the story.
Paul said, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. " (eph 2:10)
Sounds a little heavy right? I mean you could pick up from reading this ancient text that this Christianity is all do, do, do. The fact is within this text we miss something living and life giving. The word workmanship comes from the Greek word poiema word poem. It is only used twice in Scripture yet conveys meaning that is almost breathtaking, and of great importance.
The word poiema is used here first to describe God's work of creation in Romans ; For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (rom 1:20 NIV)
Paul said, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. " (eph 2:10)
Sounds a little heavy right? I mean you could pick up from reading this ancient text that this Christianity is all do, do, do. The fact is within this text we miss something living and life giving. The word workmanship comes from the Greek word poiema word poem. It is only used twice in Scripture yet conveys meaning that is almost breathtaking, and of great importance.
The word poiema is used here first to describe God's work of creation in Romans ; For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (rom 1:20 NIV)
Get this, with all our mistakes, selfishness and pride amongst other stuff, we are doubly a divine story in the penmanship of Our Sovereign God, when we give our lives to Him! How special is that! We are first a divine poem, art, story, part of His wonderful creation; but when we allowed sin to enter the world back in the garden , God wrote another divine story, that of the story of sweet redemption. Through Christ he rewrites us, recreates us all over again. Get this, It’s not about works it’s a love story of boundless grace and you and I become the story.
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