“When I started going through Luke’s gospel again,” Stan commented one morning, “I was drawn to something he wrote at the very beginning that has an impact on why I am to read and study the Bible.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“It’s the part where Luke says why he wrote what he wrote,”
“What’d he say?”
“He said that he wrote what he did so those who read it would know the truth,” Stan replied.
“So the readers would know the truth,” I repeated. “That’s sounds like a pretty good reason to read what he wrote.”
“Sure does,” Stan replied. “If Luke took the time to write what he did so I would know the truth, it seems to me that I should take the time to read it so I will know.”
“Didn’t Jesus say something, somewhere, about truth and knowing the truth?” I asked.
“He did,” Stan replied. “In the fist instance, He said that He is the truth, and then He said that if people abide in His word they are truly disciples who will know the truth and be set free.”
“That seems kind of like it goes full circle,” I replied.
“In what way?” Stan asked.
“It looks like I should be reading and studying the Bible to know the truth so I can abide in the truth and be a disciple of the One who is the Truth.”
“I think you got it, my friend,” Stan replied with a smile.
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Bible verses to consider:
It seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, . . . so that you might know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. Luke 1:3-4.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” John 14:6.
Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed in Him, “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32.
And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. John 17:3.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you sent Jesus, who is the Truth, as the way to you so I can know I will spend eternity in your presence when it’s time. Thank you, too, that I can know the truth of you and Jesus ever more deeply while you keep me on this side of eternity. I confess that too often I don’t take the time to know you and the truth as deeply as you intend. Please forgive the foolishness of trying to live this life without knowing you and the truth. Please help me to follow every step of your lead so I not only know the truth, but I share it with others so they also will know. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you come to accept the truth of God’s free and gracious provision of life with Him eternally when it’s time? If no, why? Don’t you want to be set free by the truth? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with taking the time to know the truth of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit in an ever-deepening way? If you sense the need for change in how you pursue knowing God and how you share the truth with others, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 