LUKE. The addition of Luke, “the beloved physician” and writer of the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, must have happened at Troas. It was there that the missionaries came to get passage to Macedonia. The “confluence of circumstances” guided Paul to lead them all to Europe with the Gospel. When specific names are mentioned, we often immediately associate them with the place they live or their present occupation. That is usually how a person is known. But it is remarkable how one more word can really change the tone of a comment and turn it into something very significant. It may reveal a person's character traits or some spiritual direction, like the word "beloved" in front of the name "Luke." That one word adds more weight to his testimony than the word "physician" lends to it.
I wonder what kind of reputation the mention of my name gives? Do people who know me here consider me a trustworthy friend? In the many places I have traveled to and in the work which I have done, when people hear my name, would they really want me to come and see them? Or would it be better, as far as they are concerned, if I stay away because they are not sure about what I would do or say? What word would people put in front of or even behind my name when they speak it, or if it were written, what would I find?
A person who volunteers to be with another in times of pain or trouble has a reputation that is much more than doubled. We respect people who do not avoid association with another person who needs encouragement, like Paul, in his incarceration. To be willing to identify with a sorrowful person and give comfort or come alongside someone who suffers and whose nerves are frayed is to be recognized as a genuine friend. Indeed, a reputation is established that he or she is counted trustworthy by others in times of great need.
Like Doctor Luke, others of the Lord's people can sanctify their abilities and use them to further the kingdom of God. Others are just there, like Demas, and one wonders which way they will go. To some people, having a whole assembly meeting in one's home would be an unwelcome responsibility, and to others, it would be a great privilege.
We all have people in our lives with whom we share important things. This does not mean we act with partiality or elitist attitude toward others, but we may have labored extensively with them, gone through hard and trying times with them, and, to a degree, even suffered with them. Some are relatively unknown to many but have made significant contributions of one kind or another to further the kingdom of God.
Some things are best said in person rather than in a letter, so words and thoughts can be exchanged. Some areas in which spoken words make things understood better are when reporting on personal things like health, living situations, disappointments, personal hopes, and prospects. This is especially important when communicating with those you have never met and are letting someone you know and trust speak to others for you.
A person you know and hold in high regard can speak for you because you know him and his reputation. The report he gives audibly will be trustworthy and consistent with your intention. A “fellow servant” of God who is a “beloved brother” to you and a “faithful minister” to the Lord’s people can be relied on to give suitable information. Such people encourage all they come in contact with. They are a blessing to the one who trusts them with information and can inspire those who trust them by how they give the report and their attitude toward them.
Certain things come to mind when a brother's name is mentioned. Some people's names make us smile when we think of shared experiences, while others cause tension because of differences of opinion or conviction. Either way, something special, whether one or the other, comes to mind because we belong to the same family. There is an inborn sense of “family” whenever you meet a Christian; he is a beloved brother.
Over the years, sharing life and service with some men has developed a special appreciation bond with them. We have experienced some difficulties and trials, and had some good times. He is undoubtedly a beloved brother, even though most of his life is spent in the same way as mine. Various things happened during the years of laboring together, and some positive things were accomplished. The same brother never left the work until he knew it was finished. When he started a thing, he stayed with it through thick and thin. Whenever I hear of a "faithful minister," I immediately think of him.
In the work we were called to, we labored together; that was the nature of the task. When something came up, you could count on him without being asked. He wasn't one to take credit for himself; he did what he did for the Lord. He was a faithful fellow servant laboring in physical things and teaching the Word of God to bless God’s people and bring glory to our Lord.
I am called to stop and wonder what could be said about me when my name comes up in a conversation. Would I be considered a beloved brother who is faithful in his ministry? Have I applied myself faithfully to the labor I have been called to? Am I one who can be counted on, or am I one of those who say, "We'll wait and see?" I stopped to reflect on the many men I have labored with; everyone has special gifts to give, and each one has different strengths. The challenge to me is that I wonder if there are those to whom I am a “beloved brother,” “fellow servant,” and “faithful minister.”
Luke was a doctor who left his practice to help Paul and traveled with him from Philippi until the end of his journey in Rome. It was a wonderful testimony to all who accompanied Paul that a Jew and a Gentile continued working together in harmony. Reading the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts, which he wrote, gives the impression of an orderly, careful, and trustworthy man who was cool, calm, and collected. He was different from Timothy, who was “like-minded” with Paul. Luke was a careful investigator who interviewed people, checked out the historical details, and then wrote them in an orderly fashion. Likely, as a doctor, he realized the importance of being thorough in his research. He would have been skilled in observation and analysis. He was a clear-thinking Greek who, after putting effort into gathering all the evidence he could and, at the same time, being guided by the Holy Spirit, came to the logical conclusion that would have resonated with skeptical Greeks and Gentiles in general – “The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true!” Every Gentile believer must know that the Gospel is not only for the Jews but for every person, no matter who they are or where they are. Audible accounts of truth and our life experiences with God are good, but they can be easily forgotten or not passed on the way they were given. The Spirit of God gave “holy men of old” the ability to put into words the accurate accounts of our Bible's Old and New Testaments. The written words of truth and things learned can be reread and reviewed as often as necessary to ensure we understand the point. Doctor Luke clearly states the whole point of written words being put in book form. “That you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.” Just because two people give different views of the same event doesn’t mean that one is wrong or contradictory to the other. Perspective and the purpose behind providing an account must be considered. Luke did not write his Gospel account and the Acts of the Apostles as a dispassionate observer looking at things from a distance, but as a participant in the results of the Gospel. He was already a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ who wanted to commend the Savior in whom he had put his trust by faith to other people. He wrote about supernatural events that defy skeptical observers’ opinions. He based his account on the testimony of eyewitnesses to events rather than on human logic that is limited by human experience. Luke believed in the risen Lord Jesus Christ, who was seen and heard by eyewitnesses in several locations and situations. He was a serious researcher rather than a collector of vague reminiscences. The “order” in which Luke put things was related to the subject material rather than being restricted to a chronological time chart. His point seems to have been to present Jesus’ mission as a planned program to be filled out in order from before He was born to His concluding blessing on His disciples when He was received up into heaven, having “finished the work” He had been given. When there is “certainty” regarding a matter verified by eyewitnesses, that is a firm foundation on which to base our faith. Speculation by skeptics from far and distant places and times holds no weight when faced with reliable eyewitness accounts. The accurate history in an interesting and acceptable literary form characterizes the Gospel of Luke. He had a message he wanted to pass on to other people. His way of expressing the Gospel in the Book of Luke and the Book of Acts is very distinctive. His association with Paul, the last of the apostles, gives his writing great credibility.