Pastor Mikes Daily Devotioin Thursday March 13, 2014 Luke 1:3–4, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. The man to whom this gospel is attributed, Luke, was a doctor, and a traveling companion of the Apostle Paul. Luke was a historian recording the ministry of Jesus Christ in this gospel, as well as recording the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts. It is widely believed that Luke was a gentile, and the Apostle Paul seems to confirm this in Colossians 4:10-14. This would make Luke the only gentile contributor to the New Testament. We know that Jesus was fully God and fully man, and Luke presents this gospel from the standpoint of Jesus as the Son of Man. It was the quest of the Greek of that day to find the perfect philosopher who would poses the perfect philosophy; which is what those apart from Christ search for even today. In Acts chapter 17, we see the state of affairs when Paul entered Athens and found the philosophers searching for something new. Luke seeks to show the world that in Jesus Christ we have the wisdom that man has been searching for. The foolishness of mans wisdom is to change everything around him instead of looking to change himself. The wisdom of God is for man to be changed, and everything else will not matter. The problem with every philosophy that ever existed is the problem and mystery of death. In all that man was able to discover, achieve, of accomplish, death could never be overcome. Now Luke presents mankind with the One who not only overcame death, but His benefit to us starts at death. Luke knows; all that mankind has ever searched for is revealed in Jesus Christ. Luke seems to be writing this gospel and the Book of Acts to a man named Theophilus. Theophilus very possibly was Lukes old master (it was common for doctors to be slaves in those days). But regardless of who he was, his name means lover of God; so if you are a lover of God, then this gospel is for you. Proverbs 26:12, Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Pastor Mike
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 13:04:45 +0000