Our family visited the city for a candlelight concert a few days before Christmas. We had a wonderful time listening to a string quartet play many familiar holiday songs by candlelight!
The four parts melded beautifully, adding deep complexity to simple melodies. Each musician had a part to play, and the music would have been incomplete if any were missing.
These musicians reminded me of the shepherds at Christmas! After being visited by angels out in the fields at night, then searching for and finding the baby in the manger, “the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child” (Luke 2:17 NLT).
Their Story
The shepherds were eyewitnesses (and earwitnesses?) to the greatest news the world had ever heard or seen! But witnesses don’t always communicate the same news in exactly the same way. We don’t know how many shepherds there were, but more than one shepherd means more than one view of the events they’d seen.
Perhaps George told of how many sheep they were watching, and how the flock reacted when the sky lit up with the angel chorus.
Maybe Joe could describe in detail what the angels looked like, and how many he could count in the choir.
And Sam might have talked about the amazing harmony he heard!
Despite the multiple points of view, their stories lined up and supported one another. They all told everyone “what the angel had said to them about this child.” Their stories woven together painted a picture of what happened that night in Bethlehem and the nearby fields.
Our Story
Has Jesus made a difference in your life? If so, then you have a story to share! You are a witness to the power of Christ in a life lived for him. You weren’t there when Jesus entered the world as a baby, but, you may clearly remember the day when he stepped into your life!
Your experience is not identical to anyone else’s. For that reason your story is immensely valuable to the worldwide narrative of God’s work in the world through the ages.
Just as each instrument in the quartet plays an invaluable part, your story adds depth and significance to what it means to follow Jesus. When you add your story, it becomes part of our story!
Around the world, followers of Christ share their stories of lives transformed. All those narratives weave together to create a beautiful symphony of praise to God who created us, loves us, and sent his Son to save us.
I pray that as we enter a new year, your heart will be open to share your story of who Jesus is to you. We need your voice in the “choir”!
Lauri Hawley 