Luke, a physician and historian, meticulously gathered the words that we are about to study. These are more than just words, they contain an accurate telling of the life of Christ. This book contains life, strength for the new believer and wisdom for the seasoned saint.

He begins with "it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus." The heart for recording this account did not stem from expectation or obligation. Rather, simply it seemed good for Luke to write. He experienced the goodness that comes from stewarding what he received from God. His observations to his mind, his mind to his hand, and his hand to paper, and this paper to us 2000 years later.

This does not discount the role of the Holy Spirit in the authorship and preservation of scripture, but we receive a glimpse of what it looks like for a mere human, through the spirit of God, to witness and minister these events. An account of the man that altered the fatal course of humanity. Luke takes note of how, "many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us." Before jumping in to his own account of the gospel, he refers to the eyewitnesses and minister that came before us.

So why do these witnesses, in thoughtful care, record the mighty acts of God from beginning to end? Luke provides us with his reasoning. He writes that you (Theophilus) "may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught." Notice the order in this wording. The teaching comes first, the certainty comes second. Do we need certainty before we attend a church? Do the congregation, pastor and elders expect us to have it all figured out?

Personal study of scripture is a significant part in the spiritual growth of the believer, but Luke describes a facet that some might leave out. Confidence. Christians are not merely pie in the sky blind faith individuals. We act in confidence. A sermon on Sunday does not contain just one man's thoughts. The believer may take a sermon and enter a week in the confidence that God is real. They may turn to the Gospel of Luke and read for themselves of the events that took place. The phrase "I write to you Theophilus" does not have to stop there in the streets centuries ago. We may read it as "I write to you." May our faith be strengthened in the words that we read, fostering confidence in the things that we have been taught.

Luke: 1 1-4 - ESV Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.