OUR DAILY BREAD : THE GREAT STORYTELLER

[cimi]

February 4
Wednesday


THE GREAT
STORYTELLER

READ:
Luke 15:11-24
_________________________________________

Jesus spoke to the
multitude in parables;
and without a parable
He did not speak to
them.
__Matthew 13:34
_________________________________________

In his book Teacher Man, Pulitzer Prize-winner Frank McCourt reflects on his 30 years as a teacher in New York City high schools. He used a variety of techniques in his English and creative writing classes, but one that seemed to surface again and again was the power of a compelling story to capture attention and encourage learning.

This method of instruction was used by the greatest Teacher of all--the Lord Jesus Christ. The scholarly religious leader Nicodemus said to Jesus, "We know that You are a teacher come from God" (John 3:2). Yet when Jesus addressed the crowds that followed Him, He didn't recite great truths of the Talmud. Rather, He spoke with the homespun style of a storyteller.

The parables of Jesus endure because they showcase matters of the heart. Through the story of the Pharisee and tax collector (Luke 18), we learn about Gods grace and forgiveness. And the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15) showcases Gods love for repentant sinners.

The inspired parables of Jesus teach us about Him and the life He wants us to lead. We too can use our faith-stories to point others to the ultimate storyteller and Teacher, whose own life is the greatest story ever told. __Dennis Fisher
____________________________________________________________

`````````````````Take control of my words today;`````````````````
`````````````````May they tell of Your great love;`````````````````
`````````````````And may the story of Your grace`````````````````
``````````````Turn some heart to You above. __Sees``````````````
_____________________________________________________________

A good way to learn God's truth
is to teach it to others.

***************Today's Bible Reading __ Luke 15:11-24************

11 Then He said: "A certain
man had two sons. 12 And
the younger of them said to
his father, 'Father, give me
the portion of goods that
falls to me.' So he divided
to them his livelihood.

13 "And not many days
after, the younger son
gathered all together,
journeyed to a far country,
and there wasted his
possessions with prodigal
living. 14 But when he had
spent all, there arose a
severe famine in that land,
and he began to be in want.

15 Then he went and joined
himself to a citizen of that
country, and he sent him
into his fields to feed swine.

16 And he would gladly have
filled his stomach with the
pods that the swine ate, and
no one gave him anything.

17 "But when he came to
himself, he said, 'How
many of my father's hired
servants have bread enough
and to spare, and I perish
with hunger! 18 I will arise
and go to my father, and
will say to him, "Father, I
have sinned against heaven
and before you, 19 and I am
no longer worthy to be
called your son. Make me
like one of your hired
servants." '

20 "And he arose and came
to his father. But when he
was still a great way off, his
father saw him and had
compassion, and ran and
fell on his neck and kissed
him.

21 "And the son said to
him, 'Father, I have sinned
agaisn heaven and in your
sight, and am no longer
worthy to be called your
son.'

22 "But the father said to
his servants, 'Bring out the
best robe and put it on him,
and put a ring on his hand
and sandals on his feet.

23 And bring the fatted calf
here and kill it, and let us
eat and be merry; 24 for this
my son was dead and is
alive again; he was lost and
is found.' And they began to
be merry."