Closer Day By Day

Now that we’ve come to the penultimate chapter of the book of Acts, discussing much about Peter and Paul in the process, let us adjust our perception a little and look at today’s chapter from another angle. Before we do that, however, we shall read the chapter and see what we make of it.

Bible Passage:  Acts 27

Most of us must have been thinking about the great faith of Paul as well as his love for fellow men. While it is certainly true that we can learn much from him in all aspects of our life and we *should* learn from him, let us, in today’s chapter, focus on someone else. Not because there is nothing more to learn from Paul but because we have said much about him and also because I’m pretty sure the writer for the next entry would dedicate it to sum up his life and work so let’s look at someone else for now.

Who do you think I’m going to focus on?

The picture above should have given you much of a clue thus I’m pretty sure you all know who I wish to talk about. He’s none other than the writer of the books we have been reading so far this year - Luke.

As a literature student, I’m taught that when we read any piece of writing, we have to consider not just its content but many other aspects of it as well; one of these aspects being the author of the text. This makes the writing more meaningful and helps us appreciate it better so we gain more from it.

From a Christian point of view however, what can we learn from Luke?

The most evident lesson would seem to be for writers who write for God, that’s those who contribute to Manna, Holy Spirit Monthly our Bible Blog and so on and so forth. It’s a reminder to us to be like Luke, recording and sharing our experience of God faithfully so as to help people draw nearer to God.

How many of us do the work of writing though?

Realistically, not a very large number. Does that mean we have nothing to learn from Luke then?

Let me quote two lines from hymn 397 Let Others See Jesus in You and see what you think.

Your life’s a book before their eyes
They’re reading it through and through

Truly, our lives are the books we write, read by the people who come into contact with us. Question is, do we like Luke, write in such a way that people can see, feel, hear and touch Jesus? The two lines above are followed by

Say, does it point them to the skies,
Do others see Jesus in you?

What is our answer?

Despite our best efforts, our lives will pass and we will be forgotten sooner or later. This shouldn’t matter to us just like it didn’t matter to Luke who did not mention himself by name in the books he wrote. What mattered to him and should matter to us is that somehow, in our writing, in our lives, in the span of our brief existence, we have told the story that leads man to salvation and eternal life.

Have we?

If we have not, it’s not too late to start now. If we have, then let us, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and strength from God

Keep telling the story
Be faithful and true