What a Story!

My favorite authors & preachers are all good story tellers. As Spurgeon said, a good illustration is like opening a window & letting sunshine fill a darkened room.

What a Story!

"Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt."

(Matthew 18:23-27)

Before we continue on with the remainder of the story tomorrow, let us pause and take a look at what Jesus shares here. I love it when a verse begins, "The kingdom of heaven is like..." I know we are about to read another wonderful story from the best storyteller: Jesus. In this story, Jesus compares the Heavenly Father with this earthly monarch. He was owed a great deal, but when the man who owed so much begged for relief and forgiveness of the debt, the king granted him what he asked for. Is that not just like God?! We too have a sin debt we can never pay. But when we trust in Jesus and ask for His forgiveness, He abundantly pardons us of all our sins and transgressions. Praise His name!

New Testament scholar John Stein teaches that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly or moral principle, in which what is true in one realm is also true in the other realm. Jesus told many parables, and I am so grateful that He did. He knows we human beings love a good story.

My favorite authors and preachers are all good story tellers. As Charles Spurgeon said, a good illustration is like opening a window and letting the sunshine fill a darkened room. If you have read Mere Christianity (and I hope you will if you have not), then have seen how frequently C.S. Lewis utilizes stories and analogies in his writings.

I remember the first time I saw the power of story in preaching. While serving as a young pastor in the 1990s, I referenced I-35, a well-known and well-traveled highway through the great state of Texas (and several others too). There was a lady sitting toward the back, and when she heard me mention I-35, she literally raised her head and gave me her attention. The power of story does that. Jesus knew and gave us the most memorable stories ever told. I think of the Parable of the Good Samaritan, the Rich Man and Lazarus, and the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

Today's parable has that same punch or powerful moment where the light cannot help but come into your heart and mind. Jesus makes His point and makes it so very strongly.

In tomorrow's devotion, we will look at what the man owed and was forgiven in comparison to what he was owed and chose not to forgive; it is staggering!