I was on the road today to share with a church in Cleveland, Tennessee. Southern Baptists are so good to not only pray and give to missions, locally, statewide, nationally and globally, but to seek out real-live people to share with their congregations, in order to put a face to what they are a part of.
I was the face today, as the emphasis was on state missions and the work among the nations in our midst. Our church is a part of that, and I’m proud and honored to be able to share what God is doing because of their support and prayers.
On the way there, I was listening to the radio and an old song came on. I cranked it up, as it’s one of my favorite hymns, written by Fanny Crosby, who, at six weeks of age was blinded by an attempt to help her with an eye infection. She wrote over 6,000 hymns, expressing love for her Savior, despite her lack of physical sight.
The song is “Blessed Assurance,” and the refrain goes like this:
This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long.*
I arrived at the church with ten minutes to spare (I know, the speaker was cutting it close), and as always happens, God blesses me more than I do others. Just before I spoke, a distinguished looking man, of perhaps seventy, stepped to the pulpit, and the guest pianist began playing. You know what he sang? You’re right — Blessed Assurance. But he didn’t just sing it, he lived it. I’m sure Fanny would have been proud.
I could not help share with the church, as I got up to speak, that he was a hard act to follow, and that God had blessed me twice today with that song, reminding me that I have a story, as each one of them did as well. The question I asked them, and the question I ask you is this: “Are you telling your story?”
If you could write the verses to that hymn today, what would you say? Can you say like Fanny, “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine?” How would you tell others that you’ve tasted and seen that the Lord is good, or that you’ve had visions of how wonderful heaven will be, even while still here on this earth?
I’m glad I get to tell my story to churches, but can’t help but be reminded that it’s really the story that God has written through my life. Sometimes I feel I just stand back and watch him at work, like I did today.
What story is he writing through your life? What story are you living for him? Tell it, and give him the praise.
Grace and Peace
*Blessed Assurance, by Frances J Crosby, 1873.