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I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY Psalm 66:16 Arabella Katherine Hankey was born into 19th Century England, in the midst of prison reform, a push for education for children, and an expansion of missionary efforts over seas. As a young girl, she taught Sunday School and also started a Bible Study for factory girls in London. Some time later, when her brother was ill in Africa, she went there to bring him home, and from that time on, she was quite interested in evangelism. Katherine, however, became deathly ill when she turned 30, and was ordered by her doctor to stop her Christian work and stay in her bed in order to recuperate. Yes, she did go to bed, but she didn't quit serving the Lord. It was during this year in bed that she wrote a 100 stanza poem entitled, "The Old, Old Story." The first half of it, she called, "The Story Wanted," and the second half became known as "The Story Told." It was this latter half that eventually inspired the hymn before us today. The first couple of sentences that speak of Jesus' glory, love, and the unseen things above, I want to and will cry out to my Jesus in prayer. I will repent of my sinful ways, and then Jesus will have me as His own child. Then He will fill me with His Spirit, and I will declare what He has done for my soul—I will then be able to "love to tell His Story!" What Jesus has done and will do in and for us, is way more "wonderful than all our golden fancies and dreams." When we are His, we will "see" unseen things in the spiritual realm; we will feel His Love and Know His Glory! When we desire with our whole heart to live for Jesus, with Him actually in us, His story will become sweeter to us every time we tell it or hear it. Why? Because we Know that it is true, and "it satisfies our longings as nothing else could do." Since some have never heard God's message, from His Holy Word, the best way to give it is to let Jesus Live, more and more, in us. When we are Saved and Sanctified, we'll be a new creation in Jesus Christ. This song will be a new song from an old story, which we have loved for so long—His story of love. We will then hunger and thirst to hear it, even like the rest do. Then, in scenes of Glory, I'll love to Sing His Song! My prayer is for Psalm 51—for myself and all others, who, when that message of repentance is complete in us, will be able to declare—"Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what He hath done for my soul." (Psalm 66:16) Yes, I must begin with the first part—the story wanted, and then move to the second—the story told! Nothing short of repentance and full submission is what God wants—He gave us the fulness of Himself for this—Romans 5:6-8. He gives His love and we will feel His love—Matthew 22:37. When we are His, we will live in His glory—Romans 5:2. We'll rejoice in His love, life, and song; His song will be our song—Psalm 9:14. Oh, Praise God—"Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: Sing forth the honour of His name; make His praise glorious." (Psalm 66:1,2) His song is an everlasting song! Have a very Merry Christmas by singing and being a praise unto His name! ~ Nancy Faust |