Inspired by . . . the just and the unjust

Inspired by . . . the just and the unjust

I know that many of my {blog} readers do not read fiction of any kind, let alone romantic fiction and you all have valid reasons for not doing so. However, there is good, Christian fiction (yes, even romantic fiction) out there that not only provides a good storyline but solid biblical lessons as well.

I was recently reminded of this as I was re-reading Lori Wick's Yellow Rose Trilogy. I can't believe it has been nearly twenty years since I read these stories for the first time! Yet despite the fact that these stories were written twenty years ago and are even based in the late 1800's, the spiritual questions and struggles the characters face are still relevant today.

Don't you just love that about God?

Whether we're sweeping the cold, stone floors of a Scottish castle in 1501, walking through the dust of a hot Texas afternoon to use the privy out back in 1882, or typing out a blog post on our laptop computer in 2017, God's word is relevant and true.

He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Not only that, but His word is living and active. Meaning it is capable of constantly teaching us new things. I am so far away from knowing everything there is to know about God. Every day, as I meet with Him, He teaches me new things about Himself and new things about myself! Sometimes hard, yet always wondrous, lessons!

Case in point; one of Lori Wick's characters, Dakota, is a new Christian whose parents are not yet Christians. After a brief exchange with his parents, Dakota realizes how blessed their marriage is, which leads him to question whether God blesses non-Christians as well as Christians.

We're not talking about worldly blessings here, like money or a "happy" life, etc. We're talking about true blessings from God. Like a good, loving marriage. Or Godly gifts, like wisdom, etc. Does God bestow His blessing on those who have not accepted His Son? [click to tweet]

Yes, He does. I'm sure you've seen the evidence of this throughout your life. Maybe you even experienced it before you became a Christian. Perhaps you're experiencing His blessings now and you're not a Christian.

Matthew 5:45 tells us:  For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Mat 5:45)

I have a confession to make; I've been reading this scripture wrong and out of context the entire time! I've been focused on myself and the rain in my life rather than on a God Who loves so completely and so fully that He blesses and dies for His enemies.

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1Pe 3:18)

I've been viewing myself as just (which I am only because of Jesus) rather than remembering my evil and unjust state before I accepted Jesus as my Savior.

The fact that He would use a fictional character in a Christian romance novel to enlighten me to the truth of His word is astounding to me.

But then I am reminded that Jesus is the Master Storyteller. [click to tweet] He used parables to convey His message when He walked this earth and He is still using stories, your story and my story, to spread His gospel today. Whether the stories we write about are imagined or experienced matters little.

What matters is that we use our stories to praise and glorify Him. [click to tweet]

Are you a storyteller?

Blessings,

Sharing inspiration here:
Testimony Tuesday, #TellHisStory,
Faith On Fire, Grace & Truth,
Inspire Me Monday, RaRa Link Up, Intentional Tuesday,
#WordswithWinter, Titus 2 Tuesday, Thoughtful Thursdays,
Encourage Me Monday, Wholehearted Wednesday,
Women with Intention Wednesdays, Word Filled Wednesday,
#GiveMeGrace, Sitting Among Friends, #Glimpsesofhisbeauty
Counting My Blessings, Grace Moments, Heart Encouragement
#DanceWithJesus