EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/13/2026
8:12 PM
My Worship
Time Focus : PT -1 “Luke
The Theologian and Pastor”
Bible
Reading & Meditation Reference:
Luke 1:3b-4
Message of the verses: “to write it out for you in consecutive
order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you may know the exact truth about
the things you have been taught.
From the title of this SD we can be assured that Luke
was both a theologian and a Pastor.
MacArthur states that “A good theologian is analytical, logical, and
systematic. His goal is to persuade
people to understand and accept doctrinal truth by means of a thoughtful,
logical, progressive, consistent, persuasive explanation.” Now it certainly my opinion that this
statement above is true, and added to that is that this statement is speaking
about a person that has been called by the Holy Spirit of God to work as a
theologian and a Pastor, although not all Pastors are theologians. MacArthur goes on to write “Luke revealed
himself to be a master theologian by writing his account in consecutive
order. The New American Standard’s
rendering implies that Luke’s gospel will be strictly chronological from beginning
to end. Certainly it is generally chronological, starting with the birth of
Christ, His circumcision and boyhood, moving on to His baptism and public
ministry, and culminating with the cross and resurrection.” Now think about the fact that our Lord was
not actually baptized until he was 30 years old as it was done by John the
Baptist, and also after that baptism He was filled with the Holy Spirit in
order to begin His ministry. “There were
instances, however, in which Luke arranged his material thematically to
illustrate or expound a particular theological point (e. g., Luke’s record of
John the Baptist’s arrest, 3:15-20).”
(3:15-20).
“15 ¶ As the people were in expectation, and all
were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the
Christ, 16 John answered them all,
saying, "I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is
coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize
you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear
his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he
will burn with unquenchable fire." 18 So with many other exhortations he preached
good news to the people. 19 But Herod
the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife,
and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John
in prison.”
“So Luke’s
narrative exhibits a basic chronological flow, but not to the exclusion of
thematic, doctrinal discussion, in which he uses materials out of chronological
sequence.
“So the phrase in consecutive
order is better understood as a reference to the logical, systematic nature
of Luke’s writing.” MacArthur then goes on to explain “The New King James Version’s
translation of this phrase, ‘an orderly account,’ captures the essence
of Luke’s purpose in writing . His goal
was to persuade; to lead his readers to believe the gospel by means of his
carefully researched, logical, systematic presentation of the truth concerning
God’s saving purpose in Christ.” Now
with that statement said it seems to me that every true born-again believer in
Jesus Christ should have this goal, that is get the gospel message out, be
ready in your life to be available to tell unbelievers the good news of the
gospel. That is certainly one of the
goals that I have in taking time to write these Spiritual Diaries everyday, and
I am thankful to the Lord that The Holy Spirit of God sends them around the
world as I post them onto my blogs each day.
MacArthur states that the very first
vital theological truth Luke wanted his readers to understand is God’s
sovereignty in history. Now there are
those misguided theologians who have stated that God created this earth with people
on it and then just let things go, but that is far from the truth as God is in
control of whatever is going on, on planet earth. An example of what is going on in today’s world
is what is now going on in the Middle East at this time, and one must believe
that God is in complete control of what is going on there.
Continuing with MacArthur’s
commentary “He viewed God’s sovereign plan of redemption, which unfolded
through the life and work of Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 2:22-24), as of supreme
importance.”
(cf. Acts 2:22-24)
“22 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus
of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and
signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the
definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands
of lawless men. 24 God raised him up,
loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by
it.”
“It was to
die as a substitute for the sins of His people that He came into the world
(19:10; cf. 9:22-23; 17:25; 18:31-34; 24:25, 26, 44).”
(19:10; cf. 9:22-23; 17:25; 18:31-34;
24:25, 26, 44)
“10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save
the lost.’”
“22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many
things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be
killed, and on the third day be raised.’ 23 And he said to all, "If anyone would come
after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
“25 But first he must suffer many things and be
rejected by this generation.”
“31 ¶ And taking the twelve, he said to them,
"See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about
the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles
and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 33 And after flogging him, they will kill him,
and on the third day he will rise." 34 But they understood none of these things. This
saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.”
“25 And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and
slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
“26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should
suffer these things and enter into his glory?’”
“44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that
I spoke to you while I was still
with
you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and
the Psalms must be fulfilled.’”
MacArthur
then goes on to write “Second, Luke saw the significance of the universal sweep
of redemption. He understood that
salvation was available to everyone, not just the Jews (cf. Acts 10:34-48;
14:24-27; 15:12-19).”
(cf. Acts 10:34-48; 14:24-27; 15:12-19)
“34 ¶ So Peter opened his mouth and said:
"Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and
does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel,
preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout
all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the
Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were
oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in
the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him
on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the
third day and made him to appear, 41 not
to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate
and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people
and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living
and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets
bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins
through his name." 44 ¶ While Peter
was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45
And the believers from among the
circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy
Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues
and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these
people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.”
“24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to
Pamphylia. 25 And when they had spoken
the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, 26 and from there they sailed to Antioch, where
they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled.
27 And when they arrived and gathered
the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had
opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.”
“12 And all the assembly fell silent, and they
listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had
done through them among the Gentiles. 13 After they finished speaking, James replied,
"Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon
has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for
his name. 15 And with this the words of
the prophets agree, just as it is written, 16 "’After this I will return, and I will
rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will
restore it, 17 that the remnant of
mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says
the Lord, who makes these things 18 known from of old.’ 19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not
trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,”
2/13/2026
9:07 PM
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