FEBRUARY EDITION... WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE     Issue 5

by Dr. Keith J. Wise

I. INTRODUCTION:  

February has been called the "middle month."  It is called this because in many climates, the freezing hands of winter begin, in some small ways, to loosen its grip.  It has also been called the month of "Heroes and Hearts."  It is the month we celebrate George Washington and Abraham Lincoln plus Valentines Day.  So there is much to consider in the Christian life and the hearth and home.  We as a nation have historically been a people who value patriotism of the nation, and love of family and life.

 

II. DIGGING DEEPER: Considerations Concerning the Gospel of Luke

Luke is a wonderful gospel.  It is considered one of the best of the four gospels in many respects.  It is a part of the "Synoptic" trio of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, meaning they are "similar" in content and emphasis and character.   It is in comparisons to other New Testament literature, if added to Luke's other volume Acts, the larges number of verses by any author of the New Testament. (If you reject Hebrews as Pauline)... This author does not.  Who was Luke anyway?  Colossians 4:14 indicates he was a friend and physician of Paul.  He is a Gentile and a second-generation Christian, basically meaning that he did not see or known Jesus personally during his earthly ministry.  His Koine Greek, (the original language of the New Testament), is considered the most grammatically correct and centered on all the New Testament writers.  Luke will give attention to groups that were usually forgotten or neglected by the religious leaders of the day and the culture at large.  People such as; women, the poor, the socially, racially, and religiously ostracized.  

What seems to be striking with Luke is the eyewitness memories of Mary and also her genealogy.  His Gospel is dramatically introduced with the stark premise that it was based on interviews and research. (Luke 1:1-4)  If you look at his Gospel and the book of Acts, he will measure the historical periods by Roman Emperors reigns or those of other Roman and Jewish officials.  Since we are primarily looking at the Gospel of Luke just consider Luke 2:1 (Augustus) or chapter 3:1 (Tiberius) notice Luke 1:5, 2:1-2, Herod the Great and Quirinius, governor of Syria.  In the noticed ministry of John the Baptist, (Luke 3:1-2) Luke will acknowledge Tiberius, Pontius Pilate, Herod the tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, plus Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene. 

As to authorship, most of the early church fathers and traditions have Luke writing this Gospel.  Remember, he was a physician and historian.  He is driven by details and exact information to bring logical conclusions to the material.  Here are a few of the confirmation sources for Luke's Gospel: Irenaeus, the anti-Marconian Prologue to Luke, Tertulian, the Muratorian Fragment, Origen, Eusebius and others.  In terms of recipients, it is dedicated to Theophilus. (Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1) I believe Theophilus was a person.  Luke calls him "most excellent," the same term and title he uses for Felix in (Acts 23:26; 24:3) and Festus (Acts 26:25). There is a strong emphasis to Gentiles and Luke targets them quit distinctly.  He explains Jewish customs, and that his gospel is for all people. (Luke 2:10)  He quotes prophecies which refer to "all flesh" in Luke 3:5-6, which is a quote from Isaiah 40.  The genealogy is Luke goes back to Adam (all humans- Luke 3:38). He uses Old Testament examples that announce God's love for the Gentiles (Luke 2:32; 4:25-77).  In Luke's version of the Great Commission, he asserts that forgiveness must be preached to all nations and the predictions of Jesus as Messiah were announced in every area of Jewish Literature and context of the Old Testament. (Luke 24:36-49) 

As readers, two thousand years separated from this account of Jesus, we can rest assured that what we are reading is accurate and transformational.  It is not only important that we mark our Bibles, but more importantly, that our Bibles mark us. This is the reason I have called this Blog, "Wonderful Words of Life."  

DID YOU KNOW?   

Since February is a month as a nation we celebrate two of our Presidents, let me tell you something about Abraham Lincoln from a comparison of his physical stature.  Most of this information is from Carl Sandburg's monumental work, Abraham Lincoln-The War Years.

On his way from Springfield to Washington, for the inauguration, many men stepped up to the platform to stand back-to-back with Lincoln, and measure their height against his.  Most of them were shorter.  In Pittsburgh, a husky coal-heaver proved to be exactly as tall as Lincoln.  Was he really as tall as Lincoln?  Lincoln was taller in many respects that his physical height.  He was tall in Character.  He stood out, head and shoulders above the crowd, a measuring standard for manhood.  He was tall in Humility.  When one of his generals who insulted him and kept him waiting for several hours Lincoln remarked: "I would hold his horse, if he would only give us victories."  He was tall in Tolerance.  It was Lincoln who uttered those immortal words: "With malice toward none, and charity for all."  He was tall in Justice.  He pardoned many soldiers.  "A boy," he said, "should  not be blamed if his legs are cowardly."  He was tall in Humor.  Lincoln was big enough to laugh at himself.  We it was reported that one of his cabinet members had called him a fool, Lincoln retorted: "He must be right-- he is a very smart man."  He was tall in Faith.  In the dark days of war he said: "Let us have faith that right makes might, and, in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it."  On the wall of history Lincoln has left us a mark to which we can aspire.  He was a in a national and spiritual sense one of God's tallest heroes.

NUGGETS OF NOURISHMENT: (Sermon Outline)  

Title: Let Us Learn and Grow In Saying "Thank You."

Text: Psalm 35:18   (consider the words from the hymn "Count Your Blessings."

Introduction: 

One of the great sureties of scripture is the command and encouragement to give thanks.  If I calculate correctly, there is something about the grateful heart that brings pleasure and satisfaction to the heart of a holy and righteous God.  In fact, one passage I Thessalonians 5:18 says, "... give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." If this is such an imperative, why should we seek to develop skills of thanksgiving?  

Here are a few suggestions: 

I. It Pleases the Lord- (consider the above passage)

II. It Proclaims our Gratitude- (Luke 17)

III. It Provokes others to encourage with thanksgiving- (Hebrews 10:24)

IV. It Produces "Contentment."- (Psalm 100)

V. It Portrays Christ- (See the prayers of Jesus invoking thanks)

Conclusion: 

In the year 2012 one thousand couples in America who were married for over fifty years where asked the secret to there long and seemingly satisfying marriages.  Of all the varied responses, one quality that emerged in most, if not all of the couples was the ability to be "thankful" for their spouses' positive and negative qualities.  Yes, thanksgiving will keep you marriage solid and your relationship with God in good stead.

PROVERBIAL WISDOM... (Thoughts from the book of Proverbs)

"To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction." Prov. 12:1(NLT)

"Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people." Prov. 14:34(NLT)

"Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city." Prov. 16:32(NLT)

"Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished." (Prov. 17:5)NLT