I don't do Chaos!

 

I started into the NEW TESTAMENT today. For those who follow me, I have been going through the Old Testament for about 2 years now. I have gone through every book of the OLD TESTAMENT but I did not start blogging about them right away. At some point, I need to go back and add those. But, starting today, I will be going through every book of the New Testament and commenting. 

Today, I am starting in Luke. I love Luke. The reason? He is an organized guy and SO AM I! His first verses captured my attention right away:

"Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught." (Luke 1:1-4)

YES --- He is writing an ORDERLY account!!!!!! I DON'T DO CHAOS and if his account was not orderly or detailed or methodical, I would be lost! God chose the right guy to write this account of the life of Jesus! In some ways, I feel Luke's account was written specifically for me!

That is not to criticize Matthew, Mark, and John, but I am captivated by Luke's thoroughness and his desire to get it right! For me, the Bible is so critical in my faith. I have been studying the book of Revelation with one of my groups and discussing all the differences in interpretations. Pre-millennium, Post-Millennium, A-Millennium view points are all so different. Which one is right? What exactly is going to happen as we near the end of the age? The key is always to use scripture to interpret scripture. AND to not put words in scripture that are not explicitly there.

So, I am OVERLY CAUTIOUS when it comes to interpreting scripture, assigning intent, and gathering meaning for today. I am not perfect, but I do everything possible to let scripture speak for itself and if I SPECULATE, I make sure people know I am speculating.

I greatly appreciate Luke's detail, especially about the birth and early life of Jesus. I wish there was more of it! It is obvious he spoke to Mary and got her details of the events leading up to Jesus' birth. He went straight to the source. Praise God for this man of detail. For that reason, we can all be confident in the reliability of scripture as a whole and this book particularly! The naysayers that say scripture has been changed over the years have no evidence. On the contrary, the minor changes through the last two thousand years are minimal and have NO EFfECT on the theology! We can praise God for his gift of Scripture. We can read it and understand it and apply it to our lives! PRAISE GOD FOR HIS WORD!

"And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:19-21)