SHARE Magazine July 2016 | Page 19

The STORY TELLER To book the story teller: Email: [email protected] He was taking me even deeper in our relationship. He was revealing Himself to me as Supreme Lord. My Supreme Lord! If you study carefully the book of Ezekiel, one thought occurs more frequently than any other. God keeps repeating to His people that ‘He is Lord!’ The term ‘Lord’ implies ownership, and possession. While this term was often used of men to mean ‘master,’ God reveals Himself as ‘Supreme Master of all.’ God continually repeats the phrase ‘that they shall know that I am the Lord.’ One Sunday morning, shortly after that experience, the leading elder of the Church approached me after service. He was a ruddyfaced gentleman with dimples on both cheeks, greying hair and white moustache. “Richard,” he said without a smile on his lips, “It’s time to become active for the Lord! You should begin teaching Sunday School! Speak to Mr. Hunter. He’s the Superintendent. He needs a teacher and I’m sure you can handle it!” I nodded, only too glad to become part of the action to change the world. I was a soldier, a part of God’s worldwide army ready to advance against the enemy. I did not wish to become a member of a spectator religion, watching the performance on the pulpit stage. I knew that in many Churches people expressed approval at significant ideas, muttered ‘Amen,’ quietly, and made sure never to offend anyone. Sometimes, tears even trickled down some faces. Some of us might comment afterwards, “What a lovely message!” However, most of us never reached out to the lost because of the great personal cost to ourselves. Jesus Christ once said, “Whosoever does not bear his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple!” Such words were forgotten in the midst of religious indifference. Many had lost out on the excitement that comes with sacrifice, dedication and true discipleship! I was prepared to give myself wholeheartedly to transform the world! My young imagination was stirred! After seeing the Superintendent, at fifteen years of age I was prepared to teach a Sunday school class of ten to twelve-year-olds every week. John, the apostle tells us that “having loved His own, Jesus loved them to the end” and that there is no “greater love than this that a man should lay down His life for His friends!” It is our only reasonable service to give ourselves completely to the Greatest Lover of all time. p July - September 2016 SHARE|MAGAZINE | 19