Calling and Purpose 10—Luke, the Doctor…and Historian/Writer
We learn from the Apostle Paul that Luke is his “dear friend” and a “doctor” (Colossians 4:14). When Paul is imprisoned in Rome, he says “Only Luke is with me” (2 Timothy 4:11), and calls Luke his fellow worker (Philemon 1:24).
Luke is also an historian and writer—who interviewed eyewitnesses and recorded “an account of the things that have been fulfilled” by carefully investigating “all the things Jesus began to do and to teach” in order that he could “write an orderly account” so that Theophilus (and we) could “know the certainty of” what we know about Jesus (Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1-5).
After writing one of the Gospels, Luke embarks on documenting the founding and spread of the early church—while being a participant in many of those journeys himself. The word “we” is used 300 times in Acts. Many of those are Luke referring to when he is present in the story. He is part of the first missionary teams.
Luke’s calling, like yours and mine, is multi-faceted. He must have been drawn to things of science and medicine and pursued—and perhaps excelled at--the training necessary to become a doctor. His vocation was his purpose.
He also apparently, once drawn to Jesus, is called to document specifics from Jesus’ birth to His ministry and life to His crucifixion to His resurrection and ascension to the beginnings of the church, early martyrdom of the disciples, the diaspora from Jerusalem, and the spread of Christianity throughout the then-known world—resulting in 2,157 verses of text that we read at Christmas and Easter and Pentecost and all throughout our faith lives.
As part of how he is wired, he is a detail guy. He’s curious. Luke likes order and getting things right. God is able to use all this not only through Luke’s medical practice but also by using Luke to write two of the most influential books of the New Testament.
Given the extent of Luke’s travels with Paul and his companions, it appears that Luke is not easily deterred or intimidated. He persists, experiences hardship, endures the suffering of his friends, and likely suffers himself. All for the sake of spreading (and writing an accurate history of) the news that Jesus is Lord.
Like Luke, what studies and areas of training have you been drawn to? How does your vocation intersect with your calling and purpose?
How are you uniquely wired? Detail oriented? Curious? Liking order and getting things right? How is God using (or might God use) those unique traits to shape your calling?
Do you love to travel, have an interest in other cultures, hope to see many come to know Jesus? Perhaps those things also define your purpose?
How does reflecting on Luke the doctor-historian-believer’s story help you further reflect on your own calling and purpose?
Additional Resources:
• Downloadable Resources--See Sample List of Interest Areas; Your Spiritual Gifts—A Study Guide; Knowing Your Unique Calling and Purpose Study Guide; Whole-Life Ministry: A Form of Worship, Grace-Giving, and Living into Your Calling.
Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, law enforcement leadership, and individuals for over 30 years. Shirley has been EquipConnectServe Director at First Pres Boulder since 1999. She has worked with leaders and organizations in 47 of the United States as well as having clients outside the U.S. Contact Shirley.
Photo (c) Marjorie H. Irvine, All Rights Reserved.