Daily EncouragementSample

These are the closing words of Luke’s preface and in them he states the purpose of his writing to Theophilus and to us.

Our faith is based on sure facts. Part of the purpose of Scripture is to inform us of these facts and to assure us of their truth. It is interesting to notice the processes - both human and divine - behind the writing of this Gospel, as Luke reveals them. First, there was his own meticulous investigation. Then there was the testimony of the apostolic eyewitnesses, who could echo Peter’s words, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Pet. 1:16). The actual events were the fulfilment of the purpose and plan of God. There is a divine hand evident in these events themselves, and in the witnesses and the writers.

Scripture does more than assure us of the truth of events, it gives us assurance of the truth of our experience, which is based on those events. “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).