Nougat 25

Siblings, have you ever truly stopped to consider that our presence at this time is not accidental? And that God has already put a plan in place for our lives? Whether you have or not, I urge you to consider Today’s Holy Nougat as our proof.

Acts 1:1-2 CEVDCI

[1] Theophilus, I first wrote to you about all that Jesus did and taught from the very first

[2] until he was taken up to heaven. But before he was taken up, he gave orders to the apostles he had chosen with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Sent by God’s Choice

Sometimes we have to look at the backstory in between the current story so that we can truly understand our story.

We have begun to look at some aspects of being sent by God, based on the move of God’s Spirit in the lives of the former disciples at Pentecost. In so doing, I think that getting that extra dimension of Luke’s key audience – Theophilus, the God-chaser – is helpful. In the Gospel of Luke, the narrative begins with a similar note. Luke states that he’s attempting to recreate the Jesus story for Theophilus’ benefit based on his extensive research. Here, Luke asserts that the next aspect is less about Y’shua’s direct works, as he focuses on the work of God’s Spirit through Y’shua’s former disciples. We do not know that Theophilus met any of the other apostles, but Luke knew Theophilus and sought to convince him of the legitimacy of Christ.

Self-Check

Since Theophilus means lover of God or a God-chaser, can we see ourselves as the one to whom Luke is writing?

Deeper Dive

In considering Luke 1:1-4 where Luke wrote to Theophilus so that he might be convinced of the Gospel of Christ, we can assume that Theophilus was being stirred by God’s Spirit. It may be a stretch, but we could probably assume that Theophilus wondered whether he was also called by God, and that he questioned whether he was qualified to be called. Some theologians assume that Theophilus was a Roman officer. If they are correct, it is feasible that he would wonder whether he had the legitimacy to heed God’s call to ministry.

Whether our assumption about Theophilus is correct or not, we may further conclude that Luke sought to confirm the Apostles’ legitimacy as God’s chosen. He was also ensuring that Theophilus understood the Gospel for himself, based on Luke’s access to ‘irrefutable’ facts about Y’shua. To concretise his case, Luke emphasised that Y’shua’s former disciples did not choose themselves. They were selected by Y’shua, at the directive of God’s Spirit.

That is a very critical claim made by Luke. Before even explaining how God’s Spirit operated in the post-Pentecost period, he stated that Y’shua received wisdom from God’s Spirit to select those who would be sent. (That isn’t only Trinitarian theology. It also tells us how God works in tandem with Y’shua and God’s Spirit to transform us in all aspects of our lives.) They were on the brink of being commissioned for service that would begin after Y’shua’s ascension to Heaven.

It is interesting to note that the way in which Luke’s words are framed, we can also assume that Y’shua’s former disciples were being sent *By* God’s Spirit. For, if God’s Spirit did the sending, they were still chosen by God. And, if it was that they were chosen by Y’shua, under the guidance of God’s Spirit, the Apostles were still God’s chosen. The distinction between the two possible meanings is that we hear Y’shua yielding to God’s Spirit while in human form; and as the disciples were sent, God’s Spirit empowered them to bear witness to Y’shua everywhere they went.

Both have implications for our lives as God’s chosen and sent ones today. When we are about to make major decisions, as God’s elect, we ought to seek the guidance of God’s Spirit. Luke 4 tells us that at the beginning of His earthly ministry Y’shua not only fasted for 40 days, but that He was led by God’s Spirit. Siblings, if Y’shua our Lord was willing to heed God’s Spirit for choosing His inner circle and students, so must we. That requires that we take time to hear God for ourselves through God’s Word and from God’s Spirit. As sent ones, time with God is essential.

We must also recognise that we have been empowered by God’s Spirit to complete the tasks assigned to us. It may not be all impossible tasks, some may seem routine and within our capacity. But, when we are led by God’s Spirit, we have the assurance – like Theophilus – that whatever we are doing is aligned to God’s purpose for our lives. We won’t have to question our legitimacy, for we will have the assurance, through God’s Spirit, that we are sent and fulfilling the law of Christ (see Galatians 5).

What a joy it is to know that we are chosen by God to be sent by Christ through the power of God’s Spirit! Let’s bask in that knowledge today.

Point to Ponder

Before making any decisions this week, how might we offer God’s Spirit the opportunity to speak first?

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May all we seek be found in Christ