Home thoughts from abroad.wordpress.com

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, ² just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

Today’s preachers cannot be ”eyewitnesses” – not in the sense in which the earliest disciples were – but we continue to be ”servants of the word.” It is surely stating the obvious to say that the Bible is not there to serve our purposes, but for us to serve its intentions. We are under its authority; it is not under ours. We are to flow along with the current of Scripture, not cut our own channels.

I heard about a well-known preacher whose habit was to prepare his sermons on his knees: a perpetual reminder to him that he was a man under the Bible, and not over it. I’m not suggesting every other preacher should do the same. It wouldn’t be physically possible for many anyway. But I am profoundly impressed by this individual’s heart- posture.

One other thought: I don’t know if Luke and John knew each other. But if they did, I feel certain they would have agreed that to be a servant of the word was ultimately to be a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:1-18).

 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, ² just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. ³ With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, ⁴ so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

No one knows for certain who ”Theophilus” was, but his name means ‘Lover of God.’ It’s thought he may have been a high-ranking official: maybe a new Christian, or a genuine seeker after truth. David Pawson’s take is that his name means ‘Mr. God-friendly.’

Be that as it may, I believe it is important to note that the Luke who wrote this gospel (and also the book of Acts), was probably a medical doctor. Again, in Pawson’s words, he was someone with ‘a scientific turn of mind’. So, as we re-read the Christmas story (and indeed the gospel as a whole, along with the book of Acts – documents filled with miraculous wonders and supernatural events), let’s remember they were written by a careful researcher who clearly tried to get to the heart of what really happened.

You may choose to reject Christianity. But no-one should lightly dismiss it as some sort of ‘fairy tale.’ Should we reject, without seriously investigating, a faith many serious-minded people have embraced, and still do ? The fact that certain intellectuals are believers doesn’t make it true. But surely it says to us, ‘Take a careful look.’

”…I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning…’

Can you honestly say the same?

It pleased the Lord
    for the sake of his righteousness
    to make his law great and glorious.

Honour

Obey

Love

Your

Bible

It

Brings

Life

Everlasting

That’s what my beloved Pastor, George Tett, told me when I was just a wee boy. He sat me next to him on a wooden pew at the back of the Atherton Mission Hall, and taught me this acrostic, pointing out the letters ‘HOLY BIBLE’ on the spine. I’m sure he could not have imagined that a 60-odd year old man would still remember this wonderful, personal sermon decades later.

But I do recall his words; and not only his words. But also his own evident love for God’s Book. Even more, His love for its Author (and for the people of God). Such love outlives and outlasts a life, and still ‘preaches’ long after the person’s departure.

(Just a note to say that from next Monday, God-willing, we will start to work through Luke 1, and spend time in this great chapter until the end of the Christmas season. I hope to pick up at Isaiah 43 in the new year).