Today's Bible reading is the 1st chapter of the Book of Luke. You can read it here at Bible Gateway: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1&version=NASB


This first chapter of the Book of Luke is simply a wonderful passage of scripture. It includes the angel Gabriel's appearance before Zacharias to announce the coming birth of his son, John, even though he was advanced in years and the womb of his wife Elizabeth had been barren. Later, Gabriel appears before Mary, foretelling the virgin's miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and the birth of Jesus, the Son of God. There is the meeting of these two expecting women, relatives of one another, and then the chapter ends with the birth of John the Baptist.

And although there is so much one could write about as indicated above, the short thought that I would like to share is from the introduction that is found in the first four verses. Luke, the writer of the Book, tells his recipient, Theophilus, that his purpose for writing is that he would "know the exact truth about the things" he had been taught. We could only hope and pray for such a desire to permeate the church in our day. Oh, that we would have a desire to know and to teach the "exact truth" regarding all matters of our faith; to those both young and old in the Lord. In this introduction, using Luke's written words, God also gives us instruction on a proper way to prepare for truth telling. Before writing the things included in the letter, Luke first "investigated everything carefully from the beginning". A careful, prayerful and exhaustive examination of "everything carefully" is necessary if we wish to be those who do "not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." May His "exact truth" about Christ and all matters of Christian faith and practice be what we speak and teach.