Power of a Good Story

You know a movie is good when you can identify with a character in it. That is, while watching it, you find yourself saying, "Hey, I know what that's like."

You know a movie is great when a week later you find yourself thinking, "Man, driving through this Interstate construction zone with high barricades is just like when Luke was on his final approach to destroy the Death Star."

In the first example, you are drawn into the narrative. In the second example, the narrative was so powerful that you use it help you define and process the world you live in.

As people of the Bible, we need to learn the Bible stories so well that we find ourselves bringing the biblical narrative into our own lives. In so doing, it not only adds meaning to our lives since we'll start seeing ourselves as part of the story of the People of God, but it will also help us naturally shape our behavior. For just as when you pretended to be Luke on the Death Star run you, without thinking, started driving a little faster, when you bring the biblical narratives into your daily life, you'll find yourself being the person God wants you to be.