Long, long ago in a land far away, a child was born. No ordinary baby, the Christ child had come to save the world from sin.

The prophecies had been fulfilled. What hadn’t been mentioned in those prophecies was what a great storyteller Jesus would be. The Bible is full of the amazing stories He told. And all were spoken in a natural, easy-to-understand format.

Jesus came that we might have life. No doubt about it, but for writers, He also came that we might have stories… lots of them and a marvelous template of how we should reach the masses with our prose.

Jesus didn’t try to impress others with his complex vocabulary. He told stories with simplicity but they were—and still remain—powerful and life changing. Those who heard his stories were forever changed.

Untold numbers of people would flock to Jesus and sit hungry for hours on the hard ground just to listen to his stories. When Jesus spoke, they were captivated and drawn in by the characters that played out in their imaginations as the story unfolded before them.

Like any great storyteller, Jesus knew his audience, understood how to reach them and was willing to build the storyworld word by word. He chose those words carefully, weighing each one, making sure it was the right fit. I’m sure it was taxing but Jesus knew His words would impact those who heard, and He wanted to make sure they were the right ones.

You are a story teller. The fiction you’re crafting right now is going to touch others. It will change their lives for better—or for worse. The choice is up to you. Your readers will pay a higher price and endure hardship for your stories, if you write them with your readers in mind.

This Bible said Jesus—the Master storyteller—was sold out for thirty pieces of silver. What that really means is that Judas put his own desires, goals and career above that of others.

Don’t sell out.

Keep your readers as the reason for your stories. Craft the scenes with your fans in mind. Speak in their language directly to their hearts. In the end, they will be changed by the stories you tell.

It’s worth it. Trust me on this one!

To you and your loved ones, I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas. May you experience all the splendor of the season that Jesus—the Master story teller—is the reason for.

God bless!