That You May Know

 May 13, 2026

 Luke 1:1–4

1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Luke begins his Gospel with research.

He explains that he carefully investigated events, listened to eyewitnesses, and organized his account so that readers could “know the certainty” of what they had been taught. Luke writes more like a careful historian seeking to preserve truth than a creator of unverifiable folk tales or myths.

That matters.

The Biblical story is not buil on ideas or feelings. It is rooted in real people, real places, and real events. The Bible doesn’t ask us to turn off our minds or "check our brains at the door." Again and again, Scripture invites examination, memory, testimony, and witness.

Luke's gospel shows an understanding that faith and truth go hand in hand.

I think most of us have reasons for the things we trust. Pause for a moment and consider this: who or what do you trust?

Maybe it’s people who remain consistent through the years.
Maybe it’s stories that can withstand honest questions.
Maybe it’s the voices that ring with sincerity instead of deception.

Trust is rarely built in an instant. It grows slowly, over time, as something proves itself dependable, truthful, and reliable again and again.

The same is true spiritually.

You see, faith is not the absence of questions, nor is it pretending to have every answer. I have heard it said that "faith begins with enough truth and evidence to keep searching." Luke wrote his Gospel for people who were uncertain, inviting them to examine the story for themselves. Luke wanted his readers to understand that the Jesus story was not a legend, but a faith rooted in the testimony of those who personally saw, heard, and encountered Jesus. We hear this in the opening lines of the Gospel.

Maybe you carry questions about faith. Perhaps there are parts of the Bible that still seem difficult, confusing, or unfamiliar. Luke reminds us that questions are not the opposite of faith, they can actually become part of  what leads to a deeper trust.

God is not threatened by sincere searching.

Reflect

What makes something feel trustworthy to you?

How might those same qualities shape the way you approach faith?