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
Thus begins the Book of Luke. This is one of the four Gospels that was actually a letter, in a sense, written to Theophilus. To help Theophilus see the truth about who Jesus is and what Jesus has done. I love the picture here of Luke saying, “I want to be a faithful witness to what I have seen in Jesus in order to help you, Theophilus, see him for who he is.” And it’s interesting.
Luke wrote one other book in the Bible. It’s the Book of Acts. How does that book begin? In Acts 1, Jesus is saying to his disciples, “You’re going to be filled with power from the Holy Spirit so that you will be…” A what? A witness, “… an eyewitness, so that you’ll testify to the truth of who Jesus is.”
Luke 1:1–4 exemplifies our role as witnesses of the gospel.
The picture here in the beginning of Luke is a picture of all of our lives. Every one of us who has seen the glory of God in the face of Jesus is a witness filled with the Holy Spirit. We have the responsibility, opportunity, privilege, and honor of being a witness to who he is. To pass on to others, to the Theophiluses, and to the world around us… In the sphere of influence in which we live… The people you have relationships with… The people you interact with… We are called to be witnesses to them.
So I just want to encourage you to see yourself… Your life in this light today… As a witness to encourage other brothers and sisters in Christ with what you see and hear in Jesus. When you meet with Jesus in the morning… When you spend time in his Word and he speaks to you… Look for things in God’s Word that you can encourage others with during the day. Other brothers and sisters in Christ. Don’t just keep what you see in God’s Word to yourself. Spread it to others and then, of course, not just to brothers and sisters in Christ, but to people who don’t know Jesus. Be a witness to them today. You have seen the glory of God in the face of Jesus.
Luke 1:1–4 challenges us to be faithful witnesses.
Oh God, help us then to be faithful witnesses today to who you are, to what you have done, to what you have said. God, help us to spread your Word, your truth, your grace, your love, the gospel, the good news of your Son all around us today. Lord, we pray that you would help us to be faithful witnesses by the power of your Holy Spirit to speak your Word into others’ lives. God, help us to fill our conversations today with truth that encourages and builds up brothers and sisters in Christ. Lord, we pray you to help us to fill our conversations today with people who don’t know you, may not know you, with truth about who you are and how much you love them.
God, we pray for opportunities to share the gospel today, and we pray for boldness as witnesses by the power of your Holy Spirit in us. Lord, help us to carry on the example of what Luke was doing with Theophilus today in our lives as witnesses to who you are and what you’ve done.
Prayer for the Alagwa People
God, we pray for the spread of this Word that began with these disciples and followers of yours 2,000 years ago to all the peoples of the world today.
Lord, we pray specifically for the Alagwa people of Tanzania, for all 66,000 of them, most of whom are Muslim and have never heard the good news about who Jesus is and what Jesus stands for. God, we pray for the spread of the gospel through witnesses of yours to the Alagwa people. Please bless your church in Tanzania for the spread of the gospel to the Alagwa people, your church outside Tanzania. God, we intercede for them right now. God, please, we pray for the salvation of Alagwa people and Tanzania, and we pray that you would help us to be faithful witnesses to Jesus today and wherever you might lead us in our lives, in the world. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
David Platt serves as a Lead Pastor for McLean Bible Church. He is also the Founder and Chairman of Radical, an organization that helps people follow Jesus and make him known in their neighborhood and all nations.
David received his B.A. from the University of Georgia and M.Div., Th.M., and Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Some of his published works include Radical, Radical Together, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, and Don’t Hold Back.
He lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area with his wife and children.
