I’ve been making my way through the book of Luke. I so wish we could all gather together with some coffee and chocolate and go through this gospel verse by verse. I’ll admit that I’ve always been partial to John’s gospel. For some reason, however, I felt led to study Luke. So, a couple weeks ago, I opened up my Bible and started reading and I was instantly hooked.

It seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. – Luke 1:3-4

Luke’s heart was to provide Theophilus and others with some certainty – some assurance – regarding the things they had been taught about Jesus. He sought to lay it all out for them – to recount the miracles and teachings and promises – so that they could know that they know that they know. I’m not gonna lie. I kinda love Luke.

That one verse holds my motivation for writing to you each week. Sure, I want to make you laugh. I mean, life is stinkin’ hard. So, if imagining me doing the army crawl under the bathroom stall at Chic-fil-a because my child couldn’t unlock the door makes you laugh, then I’m happy. {That totally happened by the way.} I don’t write to you each week because I have all of the answers. I would be a hypocrite to even pretend that was true. I can be a selfish spouse, a less than patient mom, an inconsistent Christ-follower and, some days, I am all of these things at the same time. Grace, y’all. I’m desperate for it.

I write to you because I want you to have some certainty concerning the things you have been taught. I want you to know that your Jesus loves you when you feel unlovable. He sees you when you feel invisible. He hears you when you think no one is listening. Too often, we view ourselves like the Samaritan woman.

How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria? – John 4:9

In those days, Jews viewed Samaritans as unclean. They were considered invisible. Unworthy. Untouchable.

How many of us look at ourselves the same way?

How is it that you, a holy Savior, would care about me, a broken woman?

A divorced woman?

A single mom?

A bitter woman?

An impatient mom?

A selfish spouse?

A fickle friend?

An inconsistent Christ-follower?

What label does the enemy try to make you wear? What does he whisper in your ear? It’s different for each of us but, I promise you, it’s always a lie.

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” – John 4:10

The woman was caught up in her labels and Jesus tells her, “it’s not about you.” If she knew who Christ was, it would have changed everything.

If you know the gift of God, Jesus Christ, it changes everything.

So, whatever this week holds for you, I want you to have some certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

God knows that bill is coming due.

God knows that you’re lonely.

God knows that you’ve messed up again.

God knows that you’re feeling insignificant or unworthy.

And he says, “that’s okay because it isn’t about you.”

Your Father adores you. He rejoices over you and calls you beloved. You are all things beautiful to Him. If you knew who it was that offers it to you, you would ask and he would fill you to overflowing with peace and joy and love.

You are loved, my friends. Whatever else happens this week, be certain of that.

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