Advent Devotion: December 1, 2024
The Place of Stories
~Jackson Ringley
Scripture – Luke 1:1-4 (CEB) Many people have already applied themselves to the task of compiling an account of the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used what the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed down to us. Now, after having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, I have also decided to write a carefully ordered account for you, most honorable Theophilus. I want you to have confidence in the soundness of the instruction you have received.
Reflection
The Gospel of Luke begins candidly: a lot of people are trying to tell the Jesus story. It’s easy to wonder what to do with our 4 different Gospels, as each one offers a uniquely different account of Jesus’ life, and they don’t fit together neatly. Christians have tried to reconcile the differences between Gospels throughout history, at times attempting to unify them into a single story! Luke offers us one such ‘well-ordered’ account.
What if we read the Gospels from their respective places? That is, what if we recognize that each Gospel is doing specific work, narrating the place of Jesus’ life through their understanding of what matters most. What if we stop attempting to find a single, clear story and live into the messiness of faith? Throughout this Advent season, we’re going to look specifically at the place of Luke’s Gospel. We’ll think about how it sits alongside other scriptures, how it lives and breathes in our lives, and how it tries to tell a specific kind of story.
As we make this journey into Luke together, consider what kinds of stories you like to tell. How do they grow and change over time? How do they give others a glimpse of who you are?
The Place of Stories
~Jackson Ringley
Scripture – Luke 1:1-4 (CEB) Many people have already applied themselves to the task of compiling an account of the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used what the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed down to us. Now, after having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, I have also decided to write a carefully ordered account for you, most honorable Theophilus. I want you to have confidence in the soundness of the instruction you have received.
Reflection
The Gospel of Luke begins candidly: a lot of people are trying to tell the Jesus story. It’s easy to wonder what to do with our 4 different Gospels, as each one offers a uniquely different account of Jesus’ life, and they don’t fit together neatly. Christians have tried to reconcile the differences between Gospels throughout history, at times attempting to unify them into a single story! Luke offers us one such ‘well-ordered’ account.
What if we read the Gospels from their respective places? That is, what if we recognize that each Gospel is doing specific work, narrating the place of Jesus’ life through their understanding of what matters most. What if we stop attempting to find a single, clear story and live into the messiness of faith? Throughout this Advent season, we’re going to look specifically at the place of Luke’s Gospel. We’ll think about how it sits alongside other scriptures, how it lives and breathes in our lives, and how it tries to tell a specific kind of story.
As we make this journey into Luke together, consider what kinds of stories you like to tell. How do they grow and change over time? How do they give others a glimpse of who you are?
