Source: http://www.spreaker.com/user/themorningmeditation/30-luke-a-man-with-a-gift LUKE, A MAN WITH A GIFT Col. 4:14 "Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you." Herbert Lockyer says, "Less is known of Luke than any other New Testament writer. This we do know, he was a Gentile and probably the brother of Titus . . . Luke was a man of learning and knowledge, an exact observer and faithful recorder. His medical training taught him to be exact. He is in the first rank as a reliable historian, scholarly, skillful and sympathetic (Luke 1:1-3; Acts 1:1-3). His gospel is the most literary of the four. With his Greek mind he had a sense of form, a beautiful style studied and elaborate." —Herbert Lockyer, All The Men of The Bible, page220. I believe Luke ministered WITH Paul and TO Paul. He could not have written such a Gospel as The Gospel According To St. Luke and not be able to communicate the truth to people. I believe he was a great help to Paul in the spread of the gospel. I believe he also served as Paul's personal physician. It is not easy to think of Paul as needing and using a  personal physician. Here is a man who had all the apostolic gifts (2 Cor. 11:5) which included the power to heal, raise the dead, etc. However, we find him praying for the removal of what he called a "thorn in the flesh" in 2 Corinthians 12 and the Lord did not remove it but rather gave him grace to bear it. It is not the lack of faith to use a physician to help with a malady that God has not removed by a miracle. It is believed that Paul had an eye problem that gave him much trouble. Some believe that this was the "thorn." Others believe that this was an additional problem in the flesh that Paul had to tolerate. I would only be adding to the OPINIONS if I pursued this further. Paul calls him "the beloved physician."  The word "beloved" translates "agapetos" and means, "beloved, esteemed, dear, favorite, worthy of love." This word is a word of endearment. This word is found sixty-one times in the New Testament and is used at least 28 times by Paul. He uses it to apply to particular individuals 12 times. Why did Paul use such a word to describe Luke? Luke joined the missionary party in Acts 16 where he records Paul's Macedonian vision and joins the missionary band. The Physicians that I have been associated with become physicians because of a compassion they have towards the sufferings of people. They want to help to heal and relieve the pain of human suffering. I had a physician in Bossier City, who for years would not take a penny of my money, as he ministered to my physical needs. He was also a deacon in a Baptist Church in the area. I will always appreciate his compassionate service to me freely bestowed. I believe that Luke did this kind of a service toward him and others. Paul did not perform the miracle of healing on everyone he met who was sick.  Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:20, "Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick." Did Paul lack faith to heal this brother? Please read what I am about to say carefully. It is not always God's will to heal. If anything proves it, it would be this passage because we are dealing in this situation with one who had faith, the gift to heal, and a compassion that would not leave a person sick if he could do anything about it. You cannot read Paul without being touched with the pathos and passion he had for the plight of humanity. I believe when he called Luke "the beloved physician" he was remembering the many occasions where he had witnessed the loving care Luke had of those he had helped in their sicknesses. When divine healing is not the will of God, it is not wrong to use a doctor. It is not unbelief to go to a doctor and take medication. Paul said to Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:23 "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities." Paul is not endorsing beverage alcohol. He recommended "a little wine" for medicinal purposes. Now don't get upset with me over what I am about to say.

• published: 11 Dec 2013
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