You are familiar with show and tell, right? The common classroom activity where a child brings an object from home, shows it off to the class AND tells them about it. Would you agree it’s impossible to show and tell without the telling part? Yet, that is how many of us who claim to be Christ followers live our lives. We’ve bought into the viewpoint that if we just live good lives, do the right things, and try to be a good example we are sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. But just trying to show the story of Jesus without telling about it is like drinking coffee without the caffeine. It looks good. Smells good. Even tastes good. But there’s no power. No kick. No punch. It’s show AND tell!

Jesus Said to Tell Your Story

“Because I said so!” You heard that from your parents, right? And admit it, you’ve pulled this card as a parent. The authority card. No argument a child can offer when a parent pulls that card will avail because the parent is the authority.

Jesus said, “all authority in heaven and earth” had been given to Him (Matthew 28:18). And in that authority, He said to “go into all the world and proclaim the gospel” (Mark 16:15). No excuse we can offer can trump the authority of Jesus when it comes to telling others about Him.

The World Needs You to Tell Your Story

If you had the cure for the cancer wouldn’t you want to share it with the whole world? Knowing you had knowledge that could heal thousands of people? The truth is, you have a story that is even greater than the cure of cancer.  A story that can literally save lives.

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Romans 10:14). That someone is you!

I know sharing your story is scary, intimidating, and overwhelming. Often because we feel like we won’t get it right or we will somehow mess it all up. But there is no right or wrong way to share the story of Jesus. The method isn’t sacred, the message is sacred. Would there be a wrong way to share the cure for cancer? I dare to say, “No! Just get the word out there!” The only wrong way to share the gospel is to do so outside the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).

Who do you need to share the story with today?

And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. Acts 4:33

This past weekend I went pumpkin shopping with Amy. Yes, man card swiped. We looked at lots of different pumpkins. There were big ones and small ones. Orange ones and white ones. Some were smooth and some were bumpy. There were run-of-the-mill pumpkins and there were very peculiar pumpkins. After an exorbitant amount of time scrutinizing the various pumpkins, Amy picked out the apparent perfect ones. We loaded them up, brought them home and set them outside on our front doorway for all to gawk at.

Pumpkins have so many uses. We could have carved them up and roasted the seeds for a scrumptious snack food. We could have gone all Martha Stewart on them and made pies, breads, cookies, tortes and lots of other pumpkin goodies. Or we could have even used the pulp to make a soothing face mask (This stuff is too good to make up. Here’s a pumpkin face mask recipe for you: https://www.beautylish.com/a/vxgpg/diy-pumpkin-face-mask).

But we used the pumpkins as decoration! Is this really the great pumpkin? Because this is how my mind works, I began to think – do we often use God as a mere decoration? Do we simply place God on the doorway of our lives as an ornament for others to see? Do we like to garnish our lives with God but fail to give ourselves completely to Him?

Here are some questions to consider in determining whether God is a mere decoration in our life:

1. Do I spend time with God?

When our boys were little we would buy pumpkins and carve them up into jack-o-lanterns. They were then still placed at our doorway for decoration but the time spent in that activity with the boys was priceless. Ask yourself: Do I spend time with God each day? Do I read the Bible or does it just lie on my coffee table for decoration? Is what people see in my life a result of time spent with God each day or only a prop that is placed out for ornamentation?

2. Do I really pray?

It’s common place when we hear of misfortune and tragedy for us to say, “Our thoughts and prayers are with you.” But ask yourself: Are they really? Do I really take time to pray for others or do I just decorate my social media pages with those words?

3. Do I give myself away?

A pumpkin is best used when it gives itself a way. The seeds, the pulp, and the shell all have very useful purposes. I suppose when fall begins to give way to winter I’ll take the pumpkins that have been on display in front of our house and throw them away knowing that they weren’t used to their greatest potential. Ask yourself, am I allowing God to use me to the fullest? Am I giving my time, talent and treasure away? Or am I simply taking up space in a world that so desperately needs what I have to offer?

Just some of my thoughts. What would you add?

Well, here we are again. Here with the heartbreak of another senseless tragedy. Another irrational act of violence. Another catastrophe of horror. Another apex of anger, hate and division. Another moment to ask the question, “Why?” It seems that we are finding ourselves at this place far too often.

Yet, it is also another time to turn our hearts and minds toward God. A time to seek the Creator in a time of questioning creation.  A time to surrender our spirit to His. A time to fall on our knees and plead for His love, grace and mercy. A time to find comfort and healing from the One who holds all things in His hands.

So, today, instead of another enlightening commentary, persuasive thesis or sincere editorial, let’s simply focus on God’s Word. While there are so many places we can turn, I offer up Psalm 46. I pray you find solace, strength and hope in the words of this Psalm and can share it with others.

Psalm 46  English Standard Version (ESV)

God Is Our Fortress

46 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
⁵ God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
⁶ The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
⁷ The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

⁸ Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
¹¹ The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Amen!