Most Excellent Theophilus - Day 76 Month 3-17 Week 11-6

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year)


Leviticus 14:33-15:33 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2014%3A33-15%3A33&version=NASB1995

Psalm 64 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2064&version=NASB1995

Isaiah 54:1-10 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2054%3A1-10&version=NASB1995

Luke 1:1-25 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%201%3A1-25&version=NASB1995


Most Excellent Theophilus


I asked Encyclopedia Google who is Theophilus.  Encyclopedia Google gave me options:  a high ranking Roman official, a high priest or maybe symbolic because the name means “friend of God” and that could represent a name for “all Christian readers.”  The most likely description would be the high ranking Roman official and who likely financed Luke’s writing.  


Let’s for a moment recognize that it does not matter who it was written to, but that it’s most likely the most accurate and chronological representation of the life of Christ.  Luke wrote it in “consecutive order”.  He would have researched it very well because as a medical doctor, he’d be a man of intellect who knows how to research!  While I am discussing Luke, I’ll be treating you, the reader, as if you are “Theophilus”.


Have you ever been told something that is inconceivable?  In Luke 1, Zechariah was.  He was “an old man” and his wife Elizabeth was “advanced in years.”  She would definitely be beyond her childbearing years.  For her to become pregnant would be inconceivable yet she did.  It sounds a little like Abraham and Sarah as we had read in Genesis.  In this case though, Zechariah did not believe the angel’s proclamation and therefore, the angel told him he would be mute until the promise was fulfilled.


When we look at some of the things we’ve talked about in the last week or so, one of the things that I have found hard to comprehend, is time is so much different in our world compared to how God sees time. We’ve read prophecies about Jesus spoken 500 - 700 years before Jesus’ birth that came true.  


  • Five hundred years ago today was 1525.  In the year 1525, the Protestant Reformation was in full swing.

  • Martin Luther published his 95 thesis in 1517, equivalent to our 2017.  

  • Christopher Columbus landed in North America in 1492, equivalent to our 1992.  

  • I live close to Fort Anne, the oldest settlement in Canada.  It was only settled in 1629 -  equivalent to 2129 in our days.  I suspect at the age of 169 I may not be here physically in 2129.  

  • It’s just been about 140 years since the first car was invented.  

  • Imagine, just 200 years ago, the concept of today’s technology could not have been comprehended.  Electricity had not been defined.  Computers had not been invented, not alone our handheld computing devices we carry today.


What I find inconceivable is that God is not governed in time.  He is “I AM (timeless name).”  He has a plan for this world that is timeless.  We’ve read about His Kingdom and I’m already a citizen and I hope you, the reader, are also a citizen.  His Kingdom is timeless.  The same way Isaiah prophesied Jesus’ kingdom, God also knew each of us by name from the beginning of time, and He loves each of us equally.


I guess today, I’m just reminded once again, how big and awesome God is.  To be a Jesus follower, we are seen by God as righteous because of what Jesus did for us, as we’ve read in the last 2 days.  David says in our reading in Psalm 64:10, “The righteous man will be glad in the Lord and will take refuge in Him.”  If you are feeling heaviness today, take refuge in Jesus.  If you are tired of hearing of wars, rumours of more wars and power being assumed by the, seemingly, unjust: take refuge in Jesus.   If you injured your back yesterday (I did), take refuge in Jesus.  If you are feeling fantastic today, thank Jesus.  In all things, remember “I AM” is right there.  


Have a great day!

Steve

steve.d.pauls@gmail.com


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