For week 3 of our Summer Serials Event, we take a look at Star Wars Episode 6, Return of the Jedi! A favorite of ours that contains a fascinating scene. A scene that shows the power of a story. Stories can divide and unite people. The best stories, however, are stories that are shared. Problem is, not everyone realizes that they can have a great story too.

The question of the Day: What’s your story of how Jesus changed your life?

Today we are talking about the power of a story. Your story to be exact and how the power of a story can affect a galaxy far far away…

In Star Wars Episode 6: Return of the Jedi we see quite a bit is happening to our favorite members of the Rebel Alliance. However, the part we are going to be focusing on is the part where C3PO is sharing the story of how we have come to arrive on the planet of Endor with everyone’s favorite Teddy Bear like creatures, the Ewoks. The Ewoks are sitting there listening avidly fascinated by this story that is being shared with them. The fact that this being whom they thought to be a deity says that this is true is phenomenal!

Now, how this applies to us is a bit different because no one believes that we are a deity but we do have a story, that people need to hear. We all have a story that can and does inspire. Our story of how God loves us and has saved us needs to be shared with the world! In fact, we are commanded to by Jesus himself!

“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”
Mark 16:15

Now I have heard people tell me, Celeste my story, my testimony isn’t very good. I’ve been in church since I was a child and I never did anything. God got ahold of me young and I have been living for Him since then. That’s not very impressive.

If you are in the same boat as these people, I only have one thing to say to you. Your testimony is just as precious to God and just as powerful as those who followed God later in life. Far too often we focus on the dramatic changes. Yours is a story about how God changed the lives of people around you thus creating an environment for you to grow and mature in the Lord that is safe and appropriate. Isn’t that what we all want? Beyond that your story is still boiled down to one thing:

At some point, you realized you were a sinner and you needed a savior. You surrendered your life to Jesus, and now you are saved.

On the flip side, perhaps your sitting here thinking that the things you have done in the past that you are ashamed of and should be hidden away. Perhaps you are fearful of someone judging you because of what you did before you became a Christian. Friend, I say that your testimony is just as precious to God and just as powerful as those who have been raised in the church. Paul exhorts the church in Ephesus by reminding them of their past…

remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:12-13

Your past is your past, don’t let it rule you. But use it to give God praise, to show people the goodness of God, and to show people that they too can experience salvation. In Timothy, we are told to not be ashamed of our testimony.

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God
2 Timothy 1:8

We should not be ashamed of our story or anyone else’s story. The reality is that our walk with God. Our individual stories of salvation are all part of one great story. The story of God’s love for the world and the lengths He’s gone through to bring His people to Salvation. The power of your testimony, of your story, doesn’t come from you and where you are; it comes from the one who saved you and me. It comes from God.