A note from Pastor Brian:

     I was talking with another Pastor recently.  We were talking and sharing about our experiences in our schooling as we were preparing for ministry. We shared our experiences, good and bad.  While talking, we found that we had the same Professor in one of our classes.  Our experiences with this Professor caused us to tell of the difficult times we had in his class.  They were difficult because he expected us to be able to share our relationship with God in such a way that people could receive a clearer picture of God.

     Think about this for a moment.  How can you describe God to someone?  How can you put it all into words that would even get close to explaining God? He didn’t want us to use the “Christian” words.  He expected us to talk of God as we would talk about any relationship in our life. He wanted us to share the God that is personal and the God that is real to us.  He told us that each of us had a story about our wives and our families.  Stories of our family that would bring smiles, excitement, and also tears.  He wanted to hear the truth.  This is harder than you think.

     Our assignment was to write a story using everyday life to explain God.  To explain in such a way that people could get a glimpse of God.  The professor was fair with the assignment.  Before the assignment was due, he gave us an example.  He shared a story that he had shared with a child what God is like.  I remember his story and I want to share that story.

Here is his story:  What Is God Like?

  Once upon a time there was a little boy. Let’s call him Johnny.  Johnny was always coming home late from playing outside.

  One day his mom and dad had had enough of it.  They said, “Listen, Johnny! You never come home in time for supper.  Your supper is always getting cold.  We always have to warm it up for you.  This has got to stop.  Next time you come home late, we’ll give you bread and water.  That’s all. No butter. No peanut butter, no jam. Just plain bread and water.”

  Well, the next day Johnny came home late for supper again.  He walked into the house and sat down at the supper table.  His mom and dad, who had plates with meat and potatoes and vegetables in front of them, didn’t say a thing.  They quietly gave Johnny a plate with some bread and a glass of water.

     Johnny was crushed.  He never thought his mom and dad would do such a thing.  How could they? But he was wrong.

  Johnny’s father waited for the lesson to sink in.  Then, silently, he took his own plate full of meat and potatoes and vegetables, and put them in front of Johnny.  Then he took Johnny’s plate and put it in front of himself.

  Johnny is now a man.  Not too long ago Johnny said, “Do you know what God is like? I’ve know it all my life. I’ve known it ever since that night when my father switched plates.”

  That’s a true story. It really happened.

     So you see, we can talk about God in such a way that can make sense to people.  We can share the story of how God switched our own plates. Let me share the Scripture that tells the same story as Johnny’s.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).  

     God has taken our empty and hopeless lives (plates), and has given us full plates (Jesus). In our full plates we are given life and life eternal.  Through Christ Jesus, we are set free. We are made complete.

     Share your Story of God.  Share how God has given you a full plate. And share the grace that God has given you through Jesus Christ.

Blessings:

Pastor Brian