I Love to Tell the Story (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 661)
1 I love to tell the story
of unseen things above,
of Jesus and his glory,
of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story,
because I know it’s true;
it satisfies my longings
as nothing else would do.
Refrain:
I love to tell the story;
’twill be my theme in glory
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.
2 I love to tell the story:
how pleasant to repeat
what seems, each time I tell it,
more wonderfully sweet!
I love to tell the story,
for some have never heard
the message of salvation
from God’s own holy word. [Refrain]
3 I love to tell the story,
for those who know it best
seem hungering and thirsting
to hear it like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory,
I sing the new, new song,
I’ll sing the old, old story
that I have loved so long. [Refrain]
Text: Katherine Hankey; Music: William E. Fischer; Public Domain
Devotion
Common elements of a good story include memorable characters, engaging plots, and strong beginnings and endings. A common element of a good storyteller is saying something to the reader that is memorable after the story has been told. We need not be eloquent in our words or fancy in our delivery to tell the good story of Jesus, that “wonderfully sweet…message of salvation from God’s own holy word.” No wonder that this hymn is such a favorite. Because we know that having heard this story there is something about it that satisfies our longings as nothing else can do. Our hearts want to say, “Just tell me that story again.” And Jesus being with us enables us to tell that good story from our hearts. And telling the Story is what fishing for people is all about.
Prayer
O God, “I love to tell the story, for some have never heard the message of salvation from God’s own holy word”. You call us to tell the good story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection to all by our words and by actions. Thank you for being with us in our storytelling. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.