MARCH 21, 2012

Your Bio Here

Read: John 1:1-14

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. —John 1:14

While searching for an interesting way to instruct my college
writing class about the concept of writing a biographical sketch,
 I found this idea: Write a biography in six words. When asked
to do this, Pulitzer Prize winner Ernest Hemingway wrote this
poignant bio: “For sale: baby shoes, never used.” Imagine the
sad story behind those six words.

As I thought about this concept, I wondered if we could find any
six-word biographies of people in the Bible. What I discovered
was astonishing. Many of our scriptural heroes have
already been described that way. For example, David,
of whom God said: “A man after My own heart”
(1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22). Or Paul’s self-description:
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ” (Eph. 1:1). Or
Paul’s description of Timothy: “My true son in the faith”
 (1 Tim. 1:2 NIV). And consider these words about Mary:
“The virgin shall be with child” (Matt. 1:23). And about
Jesus: “Became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

This exercise in precise descriptions of people of faith should
cause us to wonder: What six-word description would best
describe me? Would it be positive or negative? Would it be
“Not an easy person to love” or “A shining light for the Lord”?
What would your bio say?

Lord, help me to be what You want me to be
In character, actions, and will,
For You are the potter and I am the clay—
Your purposes I would fulfill. —Fitzhugh

Once lost, now found. Eternally thankful!

Source: Our Daily Bread 2012