Moving from Within Earshot to Within Reach
By Nate Stevens
Everyone has a story to tell,
an experience to share.
As a writing community, we share in various
ways to differing audiences. Actually, the world is filled with writers—people
wanting, yes needing—to tell their stories. Writers vary by talent and not
every story is equally compelling. For example, reading through Levitucus and
Numbers may not be as tantalizing as reading John’s Gospels, his Epistles, or
his Isle of Patmos Revelation.
As our Living Bread, Jesus is a compelling
story to tell. Just as the collective story of the Written Bread of Scripture
contains a central theme, our stories should contain shades of Jesus’ overall
portrait. After all, “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). “For of Him and through Him and to Him are
all things” (Romans 11:36).
Each of us have our own Jesus story—even
those who disbelieve and reject Him. Some have a Damascus Road encounter as did
the apostle Paul. Others have encountered Him in the far-off pigpen of sin like
the Prodigal Son. A few encounter Him while simply drinking in His essence like
Mary. Others encounter Him briefly in their hectic busyness as did Martha. Some
find Him in their stormed-tossed seas of adversity, tragedy, and grief. There
are stories of deliverance, healing, forgiveness, restoration, miracles, and
rebirth. No matter, they all center around the God-Man, Jesus Christ.
And what a story it is! He created us. Then
He redeemed us. We are twice His own!
Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I
know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). The word “hear” means more than simply
hearing the sounds. It means to “hear effectively so as to perform what is
being spoken.”[2]
Many people hear Him by reading His Written Love Letter and listening for His
Spirit’s whispers. Some wait for His voice during fervent prayer time. But
there’s a huge difference between hearing something and applying what is heard.
From personal experience, being within earshot
of Jesus is no longer enough. I want to be within reach. I don’t want a
seat at the end of the table. Like the apostle John, I want to lean up against
Him. What I’ve found is that the closer I get, the more clearly I hear His
voice—with less opportunity to mishear, misunderstand, or misrepresent.
Any earthly bride wants to be within her
groom’s embrace. As Christ followers, we are the Bride of Christ. May we be the
Bride who draws closer to her Groom, not satisfied with being within earshot,
but longing to be within reach. It will add authenticity, vitality, and
enthusiasm to the stories we tell.
Happy writing!
[1] C. S. Lewis, The Beloved Works of C. S.
Lewis – The Business of Heaven, (Inspirational Press, 1998), 393-394.
[2] Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D., The Hebrew-Greek Study Bible, King James Version, Lexical Aids to the
New Testament (AMG International, Inc. DBA AMG Publishers, 1991), 1685 (#191).
Nate writes online articles for ChristianDevotions.us
and KingdomWinds.com as well as several other ministries. Additionally, he
co-founded and leads Fusion, a Christian singles ministry. A popular speaker
and teacher at conferences, seminars and Bible study groups, he speaks on a
wide variety of topics. Nate has two adult
children. He and his wife, Karen, live near Charlotte, North Carolina. Follow Nate and find more resources at: www.natestevens.net.
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