Daily Journal: 3 December

Spread Stories

Some stories are meant to be spread. Some stories are meant to be held.

When something significant happens in life, we want to tell our story to people. Stories express occurrences and their impact to either encourage, support or warn others. Spreading stories is important for public interest, sometimes safety, as well as personal understanding.

Some stories, however, should be held privately, or only discussed discreetly with a select few. Knowing what to share and what not to share depends on the importance and impact of them, whether or not it’s your story to spread, and whether or not it’s in other people’s interest to know or not know; whether we need to be holding people’s trust, or exposing something that should be disclosed.

Jesus would often tell the people He healed to keep it quiet or to go and tell others. Sometimes He would direct people who to tell.

Mark 5:18-20 (GWT)

As Jesus stepped into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged him, “Let me stay with you.” But Jesus would not allow it. Instead, he told the man, “Go home to your family, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been to you.” So the man left. He began to tell how much Jesus had done for him in the Ten Cities. Everyone was amazed.

When God has rescued us in situations, shown Himself to be faithful over time, directed a course that benefited us, we want to tell others. It is right to spread stories of what the Lord does in our lives and we should want to let others know. It brings healing and fortifies our position, as we open up about the transformation that takes place in our lives.

1 Peter 3:15 (TLB)

Quietly trust yourself to Christ your Lord, and if anybody asks why you believe as you do, be ready to tell him, and do it in a gentle and respectful way.

In Luke 9:57-62 Jesus has two men come and tell Him they will follow Him, and one that He invites, but all have an excuse to finish doing something for themselves first. They want to follow Him when it’s convenient for them.

Luke 9:62 (NIV)

Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Spread stories of the new hope and the fresh things God is doing in our lives as part of our service to Him and encouragement to others. Not because we have to, but because we can’t help ourselves.

Isaiah 59:21 (NIV)

“As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord.