Acts 28:1-16

Everybody has stories to tell. Luke wrote the book of acts, but it was lived by all the people whose stories he told. He told more stories about Paul and his ministry than about anybody else. Paul’s ministry was important to the early church, and it was important that Luke record his story for the church to have a history of its early beginnings.

When we read the story of Paul, we can be inspired, encouraged and challenged. Paul’s story illustrates for us how one man can make a huge difference by being obedient to God. However, we have to be careful that we do not succumb to temptation. Satan would love to tempt us with lies. He would tell us that our stories are not as important as Paul’s stories. Most of us will never lay hands on and heal the sick. Few Christians, as a percentage, will travel the world as missionaries. Most Christians do not preach the gospel. Moreover, thankfully, I will point out most of us will never be stoned, whipped or imprisoned.

Satan is a liar, and when he tells us that our stories do not matter because they are not big enough to compare to the stories in Acts he is lying. Stories do not have to be big to be important. They do not have to be exciting and they do not have to be one of a kind. The exciting stories get the headlines, but it is the stories of everyday faithfulness that tells the truth of our lives. Being good parents, steadfast friends, hard workers, prayer warriors and faithful attenders do not always make exciting stories, but they make healthy churches.

Paul’s most important story was the story of Jesus. Without the story of Jesus, none of his other stories would have existed. We cannot all tell about surviving shipwrecks, but we can all tell about how we met Jesus. What Jesus has done and is doing in our lives is the greatest story we will ever tell.