2023_07_05 Insight Post- Rusty Coram
This week’s reading- 1 Samuel 8-10, Luke 1-2
In our reading this week, we come across some short sentences that carry a lot of importance. First, in his introduction, Luke says: “Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. 2 They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. 3 Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught. 5 When Herod was king of Judea…” Luke 1:1–5 (NLT)
In this opening, Luke is very clear about something essential to genuine faith in Christ: truth matters. Feelings, intuition, traditions, stories, and rituals are all fine, but truth is absolutely essential to embracing the faith that God wants us to hold. The Christian faith is rooted in real history, real people, and real places. Instead of “once upon a time,” we read “When Herod was king of Judea” (Luke 1:5) and 1“At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census (Luke 2:1-3) These where specific rulers in the Roman Empire who lived and reigned in certain periods that can be verified.
Luke wanted his friend Theophilus to know the facts and have confidence in them. He wanted to show that the stories being told about Jesus were trustworthy and not merely fables or tales. Truth is not optional when it relates to what, and who, we base and build our lives upon. Skeptics are invited to examine the claims of Jesus and His disciples to see if they are true. There is never a call for us to jettison our critical thinking and “just believe.” God wants us to evaluate the facts to see who Jesus is and what He said. Once we have accurate information, then comes the decision of whether to accept and follow. Truth alone will not save us, but truth coupled with trust in Him will.
“Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31–32 (NLT)
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor