Certainty about the Truth | Morning Routine Daily Devotional for January 25

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. — Luke 1:1-4 ESV

The introduction of the Gospel of Luke addresses a man named Theophilus. Although we’re not told much about him here, Luke gives us the purpose for which he wrote his Gospel: to help Theophilus have certainty about the Christian faith, especially the events Luke writes about—the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Luke’s desire is that his audience would have certainty about the truth.

So why should we have certainty? Luke gives us a couple of reasons in today’s text. First, his account is based on eyewitness testimony. He wasn’t offering second-hand information. And second, Luke says he was very careful in his historical work: ‘having followed all things closely for some time past.’ Luke’s Gospel was not haphazardly thrown together. Rather, it shows that great care was taken to accurately report on what happened and where.  

In a day and age when Truth with a capital ‘T’ is questioned and relegated to something like ‘your truth’ and ‘my truth’, we can have the certainty that Luke speaks of. We can be confident about the claims of Christianity. Cultural pressures are not new. Followers of Jesus have been subjected to challenges from the beginning. So be encouraged. Be bold in your witness. Be strong in your faith and be certain about the truth of the gospel!