2020 Daily Devotion - Day 196
Luke 1:1-4 NRSV
Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.
This is how the Gospel of Luke begins (the same is true for the Book of Acts which Luke also wrote). The Gospel writer, Luke, is writing to someone he calls “most excellent Theophilus”. Some have speculated he got his name when he was born and his mother looked at him and said, “That’s the most awful face I have ever seen.” Just kidding!
Actually, the name Theophilus in Greek means “lover of God” or it could mean “loved by God”. Theos is the name for God and philios is the word for love. Scholars think he was probably a high government official since Dr. Luke refers to him as “most excellent Theolphilus”. While it might appear the Gospel is being written for Theophilus, it is also written to everyone, because all of us are “loved by God”.
This first paragraph is a life changer for other reasons. Luke tells Theophilus he knows many have recorded what happened in the ministry of the Lord Jesus. Luke wants him to know these accounts, including his own, are “eyewitness accounts”. This is vital to understand. We would accept an eyewitness account in a court of law. What were these eyewitness accounts? They were the accounts of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul said there were 500 such witnesses still alive when he wrote his epistles, and skeptics could go visit them and ask for themselves.
Here is the point – there were real people who saw Jesus die on a cross and then raised from the dead three days later. And if Jesus is raised from the dead, then everything He taught is true. He is who He says He is, and He can do what He says He can do. It means Jesus is God in human flesh, and if you will trust in Him, He will wash your sins away, and you can receive eternal life. This is the whole point of the first paragraph of the Gospel of Luke. It is the evidence Jesus is the Christ. For more such evidence, I invite you to read the book, “More than a Carpenter”, by Josh and Sean McDowell.
Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for faith which is not just wishful thinking. There is actual evidence for the truth of Your Word. If we are skeptical, give us an open heart and mind. If we are believers, give us greater strength and confidence in the truth of Your Word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
This is how the Gospel of Luke begins (the same is true for the Book of Acts which Luke also wrote). The Gospel writer, Luke, is writing to someone he calls “most excellent Theophilus”. Some have speculated he got his name when he was born and his mother looked at him and said, “That’s the most awful face I have ever seen.” Just kidding!
Actually, the name Theophilus in Greek means “lover of God” or it could mean “loved by God”. Theos is the name for God and philios is the word for love. Scholars think he was probably a high government official since Dr. Luke refers to him as “most excellent Theolphilus”. While it might appear the Gospel is being written for Theophilus, it is also written to everyone, because all of us are “loved by God”.
This first paragraph is a life changer for other reasons. Luke tells Theophilus he knows many have recorded what happened in the ministry of the Lord Jesus. Luke wants him to know these accounts, including his own, are “eyewitness accounts”. This is vital to understand. We would accept an eyewitness account in a court of law. What were these eyewitness accounts? They were the accounts of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul said there were 500 such witnesses still alive when he wrote his epistles, and skeptics could go visit them and ask for themselves.
Here is the point – there were real people who saw Jesus die on a cross and then raised from the dead three days later. And if Jesus is raised from the dead, then everything He taught is true. He is who He says He is, and He can do what He says He can do. It means Jesus is God in human flesh, and if you will trust in Him, He will wash your sins away, and you can receive eternal life. This is the whole point of the first paragraph of the Gospel of Luke. It is the evidence Jesus is the Christ. For more such evidence, I invite you to read the book, “More than a Carpenter”, by Josh and Sean McDowell.
Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for faith which is not just wishful thinking. There is actual evidence for the truth of Your Word. If we are skeptical, give us an open heart and mind. If we are believers, give us greater strength and confidence in the truth of Your Word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
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