Spirit-Wrought Professions

We continue to claim partnership with Luke, in his unashamed and unhindered boldness to profess understanding of Jesus, through Spirit-wrought works and more. In this offering, we are also given some extremely calming, and undeniably encouraging information about Luke, which gives us hope and confidence of inclusion.

We know that Luke was a physician. Nevertheless, and more so, what places many of us as one with him, is not his standing and position in worldly matters, but his standing and position in the Spirit. Luke was not a Jew, as Jesus was, for he was not circumcised as Jesus was. How do we know this?

Turning again to Paul’s final greeting to the saints and faithful brethren in Colosse, he makes quite a remarkable, but not astounding statement about his fellow-workers in ministry. I say not astounding, because he made it abundantly clear, all through his epistles that he was Jesus’ sent servant to the Gentiles. Who can forget Paul’s humble, yet full boast of the grace of Jesus to him. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. Ephesians 3: 8. 

Curiosity arises when Paul makes it quite clear about who his circumcised workers were, in his final, well-detailed greeting’s list. He specially takes time to name the fellow workers with him who were circumcised. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; who have proven to be a comfort to me. Colossians 4: 11b. Notice! Luke is not named in Paul’s short list of Jewish workers, since the Jews were the circumcised people.

However, we know for sure that Luke, a Gentile, was a very dear and close worker with Paul. In his letter to Philemon, his beloved friend and fellow labourer, he speaks of others including, Luke, my fellow labourers. Philemon 1: 24b. Additionally, we receive Paul’s testimony of being abandoned by all his fellow workers, at a most critical time in his ministry, stating that, Only Luke is with me. 2 Timothy 4: 11a. 

You and I, like Luke, may not be circumcised, as all Jews are at birth. For us, it may be that we were not born into a family where we were baptized with John’s baptism, at birth even, and have lived without water baptism. Nevertheless, like Luke, we know the full baptism of Jesus, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who makes us faithful, fellow workers. Like Luke, we will be the ones who do not abandon the faith when the going gets very rough. We, who may not have known water baptism, but have been captured by the Living Word, have repented of our sins and have given our lives to Jesus, know the Spirit’s baptism.

Indeed! Those who have died to self, and know Jesus through the Gift of His Indwelling, Abiding Pentecostal Spirit, may not carry, like Luke, certain outward marks in the body. Luke did not bear the outward, flesh marks of circumcision in his body, but he bore the circumcision of his heart in all that the Holy Spirit wrought in him. We may not bear the flesh, outward show of cleansing through water baptism, but we know in our lives, cleansing of our sins through the Precious Blood of Jesus. We know, in inner and outward evidence, all the works the Holy Spirit has wrought in us and continues to do daily in us, so that we are not in the least bit less faithful to His Word. 

It is with this personal, spiritual kinship to Luke that we are able to fully feed, without shame or reserve, on all that is being offered to us in our text for this week.