TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanius tetrarch of Abilene—during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. Luke 3:1-2
Read: Luke 3:1-2
Listen: Luke 3
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Imagine Theophilus opens the communication from his friend Luke and begins reading. In the glow of the oil lamp he reads about Jesus’s virgin birth, powerful miracles and miraculous healings. The amazing story concludes with his death and resurrection three days later. The story is dramatically unlike anything from the world’s major religions. Luke’s gospel, and the Bible overall, focus on actual events.
We can quickly move past unfamiliar names, places and events in Luke’s gospel. While writings like Homer’s Iliad are squarely in legend and myth, the Bible can be studied and researched by academics and archeologists. This characteristic is entirely foreign to other religions’ scriptures. Watch this video as John Dickson teaches the value in recognizing this is real history featuring actual places, people and events.
This gives us great confidence. It also speaks to God’s goodness each time we hear of a discovery that validates the historical nature of the Bible. God’s Word encourages our hearts and also strengthens our minds.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Give thanks to God for the solidity of the Bible. Thank him for giving us a book that stands up as an accurate historical document that is also historically trustworthy.
2022 BIBLE MEMORY PRACTICE
Develop spiritual roots and tap in the power of God’s word by memorizing monthly a Bible verse! View previous verses at beyondtheweekend.org/biblememorypractice.
MATTHEW 22:37-39
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
