This TfTD is not for everybody. Look at it as a Christmas Bible Study. It seeks to provide a firmer foundation for us as we celebrate Christmas. It’s an excerpt from last Sunday’s message.
I like to know what I am doing and why I am doing it. Many people don’t need that. They are content to celebrate Christmas, or at least their version of Christmas, without understanding the history and unfortunately, when you don’t understand the history, then the scholars from other world views can do an Atlanta Falcons\Redskins thing on us, i.e., beat us up and send us home. Specifically, this thought informs us by helping us appreciate what St. Luke brings to the Christmas story by demonstrating that he was a first rate historian and therefore, his account can be trusted.
Luke is the writer, and in Chapter 1:1-4 Luke says things that a first rate historian would say. For example, he says that he compiled these things. Note the text:
“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us,”
To compile means to set out in order. He does not merely set it out. He sets it out in order. Have you ever listened to a radio talk show where someone calls in attempt to make a point but they can never get to the point. They talk a lot of jibberish but they never make the point because they do not know how to compile their thoughts? That’s not Luke. Luke compiles these things.
Additionally, he does something else that a first-rate historian would do. Notice that he says in Verse 2 that he compiled them, “just as they were handed down.”
“…just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,”
He kept it in the order that it was handed down to him. He did not variate the story. Also, the account was not handed down by just anybody. A first-rate historian would not receive and publish information from any and all sources. The sources would have to come from those who could validate the events and generally that would be people who were eyewitnesses, i.e., people who were actually there. One of my professors at the Washington Bible College said he believed that some cases Mary was talking to Luke and Luke was writing down the events that she shared because she was there.
Another thing a first rate historian would do is carefully investigate his claims. Let’s face it. A lot of things get shared on social media without any investigation whatsoever. They didn’t even think about it. It sounded good so they just put it out there no matter how wrong it is. However, Luke, the first rate historian says in Chapter 1:3 says, “having investigated carefully”. Luke has done his job. His writing will not lead us down a wreckless road to a dead end. Like the bright star in the Bethlehem sky, it leads us to the Savior.
Merry Christmas!
Life Step Ministries 
I only post on Facebook about my experience’s of life I never use no one’s comments, except the word of God. The number on reason I don’t do it all my life I was told what to think and not taught to think for myself, I believe the word of God is the truth.
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In an earlier electronic communication I told all of my friends that I would rather hear their thoughts than have them cut and paste something that somebody else said because they thought it was neat, and you have given me your own thoughts and I appreciate it. Also, as you know, we come from the same small town in West Virginia and it warms my heart every time I hear from somebody in a good way who is from our neck of the woods.
On the other subject, there were times when I listened to people and the advice that they gave was flat out, wrong. Then there were times when I listened to others and their advice and their opinions were just what I needed to hear and act on so I find myself wishing that more people would have given me the advice that I needed and had I listened I could have avoided some of the difficulties that I faced. Just as an example, I remember when I was about to graduate from high school. I had an appointment with the school counselor as every student did. But she had six hundred students that she had to meet with so she did not advise me the way I needed. I left the meeting not knowing what the meeting was for. I wanted to go to college, Mom and Dad had no money and neither did I. I wish the counselor would have advised me how to get in college without money, in a way that I could understand but she didn’t. Shortly after that meeting, I went to college registration day, I went all the way through the registration process and when I got to the line to pay for college I turned around and walked out. I wish that the counselor had advised me in a way that I could understand but she did not, because I know I would have listened. Of course, I went later and got my degrees, but that was 17 years later.
Merry Christmas and thanks again for sharing your own thoughts.
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