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What Good Is An Untold Story?


                 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care,  trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. (I Peter 1:8-12) 

            Yesterday, I wrote about our lives being stories, and stories are only interesting if they involve struggles and trials. Another element found in some stories is called "foreshadowing."  This is when the author drops hints about what is going to happen. According to today's passage, the prophets and even the angels were excited by God's foreshadowing (AKA prophecy.) They wanted to be able to get on with the story of which their own stories were part. 
           This is one of the blessings I've received by reading, writing and teaching. God showed me that things that happen in my life may not be about me. They may happen so that I can share them with others. As I tell my story, I'm giving a gift to someone what was given to me for them, even if I don't know who they are. That's one of the reasons we need other people. Sometimes the answers we seek are in their stories. Sometimes the answers they seek are in ours. Someone a long time ago longed to hear or read about what is happening in your life because the Spirit lives in you, and that excited them. Does it excite you, or me? Probably not as much as it should. 
           Jesus called us to be witnesses, to tell the story of what we have experienced. It may seem boring to you because you're in the midst of it, but to those who are waiting, it may be the greatest blessing you can give and people throughout the ages are waiting to hear it.

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