Joy is Found When We Engage in the Journey
Do you ever wonder why certain verses are in the Bible? I am intrigued by the supplemental information provided in some Bible stories. For example, in 1 Chronicles 18, the author details how many chariots David captured along with the number of charioteers and soldiers. In addition, we are informed that David “hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses.” No explanation, just FYI.
Acts 16
I’m currently reading the book of Acts, and Luke, the author, is big on details. He often provides extra information. In Acts 16, Luke tells us “From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. From there we traveled to Philippi…” (verses 11-12a). I felt like I was perusing someone’s dry travel diary.
I wrote in my journal: why is this here?
I found my thoughts roaming, attempting to dissect the reason for the extra information. I wondered if the intended reader was familiar with these sailing journeys. Luke provided clues to how easy or strenuous their journey was if one had traveled that way before. In addition, Luke’s time frame may have alluded to a strong wind in the sails, or the possibility they were taking their time.
All the details and various elements that appear superfluous create the whole story.
Studying the Whole Story
As a former English teacher, I remember teaching students to examine the details of a story to learn about the main character. Where did the character go, and what does that tell you about him? How did the character respond to a circumstance, and why do you think she responded in that way? Is the character drawn to be with people, or be alone? Does he like to be active, creative, or intellectual? Is she friendly, abrupt, chatty, or quiet?
As we learned about a prominent character, my students and I could decipher why the story progressed in the way it did. From this vantage point, students could then venture into deliberating whether they agreed with the character’s choices or not. Our discussions could lead us to discover better ways of dealing with various circumstances or life in general.
Discovering Paul in His Story
As I’ve studied the apostle Paul, I’ve determined he was not just a missionary who shared the gospel. He was more than that. Paul was a man willing to go the distance. He wasn’t set on only taking the easy road. Paul had strong convictions and willingly suffered for his beliefs. He was intelligent and creative, finding connection between the gospel and the culture he found himself in. Paul wasn’t a pushover; he boldly stood against local governments, declaring his rights.
Paul’s life teaches us the journey is as important as our goals in our relationship with Jesus.
In Acts 16, Paul was on his way to Macedonia because he experienced a vision where a man begged him to come help them (Acts 16:9). Paul had intended to go in another direction, but the Spirit interfered and led Paul somewhere else. His journey teaches us we must rely on the wisdom and direction of God’s Holy Spirit. Paul’s goal was to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Spirit guided Paul toward a specific avenue to achieve his goal.
The Elements Make the Story
In my calendar, I write weekly goals and tasks. Then, each day I decide which specific tasks I will work on. All week long, I am moving toward achieving particular goals. However, the week doesn’t hold its value by what is accomplished at the end. There is value found in each day, each task, each encounter. The same is true of all of life. What we experience and learn on our way to somewhere is just as important as arriving at our destination. Allow me to remind you: all the elements make up a story.
When we look back on the various aspects of our life, or even if we ponder just the preceding two or three days, we can view our progress. We can identify our struggles and the lessons we have learned. As we examine our responses to circumstances and individuals, we discover growth in our character, or areas that need improvement. We determine personality traits that bring us joy or make us cringe with embarrassment. Life is enjoyed most when we fully engage in the journey.
Engage in the Journey
Just like Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke, we are all on our way to somewhere. And the whole story of who we are and who God is in our lives is discovered along the journey. The destination, whereas significant, is just part of our story.
Whether you are close to achieving a goal, or wading in the muck of everyday life, today is important. Dallas Willard says, “This is an occasion when God is present. This is a time to pray to praise.” Lean into the wisdom and direction of God’s Holy Spirit. He’s crafting a fabulous story with you as a main character.
The Journey is On Photo by Clemens van Lay on Unsplash
