YOUR STORY

08/09/2024

We often give attention to major Bible characters – and for good reason.

Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Deborah, Samson, Elijah, Mary, and Paul, all teach us crucial life and faith lessons, either as examples to follow or as cautionary tales.

But as I read the book of Acts, I am just as impressed with the less notable, minor characters. There are quite a few men and women who are mentioned briefly or in passing.

For instance…

With the death of Judas Iscariot, the apostles needed to add a new apostle to bring the number in the gang back to twelve. After casting lots, the church chose Matthias over Joseph Barsabbas. Did you know that Matthias is never mentioned again in the New Testament? I’d love to read “The Life and Times of the Apostle Matthias,” but I’ve never seen such a book. (Acts 1)

When there was a dispute at First Church of Jerusalem about the care being shown to the Hellenistic widows, the apostles told the congregation to select seven men to put in charge of serving widows while they continued to devote themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. Of these seven servants, we know quite a bit about Stephen and Philip. But we never hear anything about Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, or Nicolas. I wonder what happened to them? (Acts 6)

Then there was the unnamed servant of the Ethiopian queen, Candace, who came to faith and was baptized at a desert oasis after Philip preached Jesus to him from Isaiah 53. This man continued traveling south into Africa, rejoicing. Wouldn’t you love to know what his “next steps” with Jesus looked like? (Acts 8)

Then there was Ananias. He was a part of the Christian community in Damascus when Saul (later known as Paul) came to town. Saul had come to arrest Christians. But Saul was “arrested” by Jesus, who appeared to him and then blinded him. The Lord told Ananias to find Saul and restore his sight. After expressing misgivings with this plan, Ananias submitted to God and did as he was told, laid his hands on Saul, and welcomed Saul into life in Jesus. And that’s all we have of Ananias’ story.

These were all bit players. But the pattern of introducing men and women whose stories are only mentioned briefly continues in Acts.

***Check out the following: the unnamed disciples who rescued Saul from an attack by lowering him over the Damascus city wall (9:23-25); Aeneas whom Peter healed (9:32-35); Dorcas, a woman Peter raised from the dead (9:36-42); Simon, the tanner, in Joppa (9:43); the church leaders in Antioch – Simeon / Niger, Lucius, Manaen (13:1); the elders in the churches of Galatia (14:23); Lydia, the “woman of peace” who welcomed Paul, Silas, and Timothy to Philippi (16:14:15); the Philippian jailer (16:22-34); Priscilla and Aquila (18:1-4); Apollos (18:24-28); Paul’s traveling companions Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Tychicus, Trophimus (20:4); and one of my favorites, Eutychus (20:7-12). And we could list more.

What dawned on me was that Luke, inspired by the Holy Spirit, recorded only one Gospel storyline. He told us the story of the spread of the Gospel from Jerusalem to “the remotest part of the world” (Rome, so Acts 1:8) through the ministries of Peter and then of Paul.

While other stories are mentioned, they are left undeveloped. Many other Christians lived for Jesus, made their mark, and left their legacy. They served, prayed, loved, evangelized, and lived generously. Acts proves that God’s methods have always been people! But we don’t get to read the stories of lots of the people He used in Acts…Yet.

One of the great delights of my life has been to watch the Jesus story as it is developed in and through those who are a part of our church. Many of these stories are unfolding right now.

You are a prayer warrior interceding for needs you can’t meet – but which God can.

You are generously giving to support needs around the world.

You are befriending people who are far from God in the hope that they will see the beauty of Jesus’ Gospel.

You are sharing your talents with the church family here.

You are showing hospitality to someone who is lonely.

You are being God’s tool to restore someone who is broken.

These are your stories. We are each a thread that God is weaving into the fabric of Jesus’ grand story. The thread of our story is not written down in the book of Acts.

But be encouraged. Your story is known and has been read by the only Reader who counts. God knows your story. Your labors of love, your heartfelt service, your sacrificial generosity are all written down, but not in a book by Luke. It is written by the Lover of your soul.

Here and now, your story may not be written up, published, shared, or even “liked.” But there is One who sees. Live for His pleasure. Live and serve for His “Well done!”

Yours…His,

Dave