What?????

Just reading the early chapters of Luke with the beauty of the Christmas story and the Magnificat as Mary declares her blessed position in Christ and then I began the 3rd chapter and came across this, "In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar....when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod Tetrach of Galilee, his brother Philip Tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias Tetrach of Abilene....during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.  He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins."

What is the purpose of that?  Luke is writing to his friend Theophilus and to the Gentile world of the things that he has learned about this man who Luke has come to believe is the Savior of the World.  It is as though he is saying to anyone who reads his account, "hey, check it out.  If you don't believe me, here is a list of the important folks who were around when all of this happened.  Ask them!"  Luke is providing detail to refute anyone who might say, "prove it!" 

How sure of your testimony are you?  Have you seen or heard evidence of the Christ?  Can you back up your belief?  Can you cross reference what you have seen or know in a way to be convincing to the curious, the one who needs a nudge to come to faith? 

Growing in our understanding, becoming confident of our Faith is to become a witness; one who can speak with authority of the good news that we have heard that God has come and because he has we have a hope for the future.  What are you witness too?  Can you speak as one who is witness to God's power and presence.

Praying that you can have the boldness of an eyewitness this day.  Be a blessing and praise God in what he has done in and through you.