Faithbase

Christmas day one, the beans or the background. The book we're going to be looking at throughout this Christmas series is Luke. Luke wrote the book of Luke, super creative title, to provide us with a historical account of Jesus's life. Today we're reading about Luke's why for writing. He starts out addressing Theophilus. Many scholars believe this to be an actual person who was struggling in his faith, while others believe that Theophilus was a literary device to address all believers, because the word translated is lovers of God. The verse, Luke chapter one, verses one through four. So many others have tried their hand at putting together a story of the wonderful harvest of scripture and history that took place among us, using reports handed down by the original eyewitnesses who served this word with their very lives. Since I have investigated all the reports in close detail, starting from the story's beginning, I decided to write it all out for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can know beyond a shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught. The steam, what this means to me and how I can apply it to my life today. He is real. As I read this verse, so you can know beyond a shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught, I was hit with a pretty big realization. I sometimes lump Jesus and Santa Claus in the same category. I have to admit that a lot of the time I am subconsciously thinking about the stories of the Bible in more of a fairy tale sense, instead of real life, actually happened history. Anyone else read about Noah's Ark and feel the same? So doubt is okay. Doubt should never get in the way of someone believing in and knowing the real Jesus. To doubt is human, and doubt when tapped into a bit can actually lead to a deeper faith. When I am reading the Bible and I find myself doubting, it causes me to do a little more research. And every single time when I put the effort in, I walk away understanding more clearly, believing more deeply, and with a closer connection to God. Sometimes Christmas is actually one of the easiest times to lose biblical truth and all of the Santa Claus magic. It's easy to view them both in a fairy tale sense as we run around creating the magic for everyone else around us. So in short, you are allowed to doubt and question. Those doubts and questions can actually lead you to a deeper faith if you seek to find the answers. And from the verses we read today, it's clear to see we aren't alone. Luke wrote this book in order to help those who have doubts and questions discover the truth about Jesus. Don't be afraid to share your doubts with God. In fact, I challenge you to list those out for him today. You may be amazed at how you magically feel peace or begin to discover the answers you're looking for. And hey, it's no crazier than writing a letter to a fictitious man in the North Pole.