Studying God's Word

A scripture popped up on my i-phone application the other day.

I usually read these scriptures and go on, but this one struck a chord in my spirit.

Acts 17:11
"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."

Several things about this story stick out to me.

First of all the background of the story:
Paul and Silas came to Berea from Thessalonica, where "some of the Jews were persuaded and joined {them}, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks". (Acts 17:4) The "jealous" Jews formed a mob and started a riot, so the Christians sent Paul and Silas away to Berea at night. So Luke tells us that the Bereans were of "more noble character" than the Thessalonians. Because....

Secondly:
The Bereans "received the message" - the Gospel message - with "great eagerness". I believe that when they heard Paul and Silas preach their hearts burned within them. "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free."

Thirdly:
The Bereans "examined the Scriptures"... Examined here in the Greek is "anakrino" which means "to scrutinize specifically in a forensic sense". These guys didn't just believe every Tom and Joe (aka Paul and Silas) that came along preaching a new doctrine. They studied it out and asked the hard questions.

Fourthly:
The Bereans examined the Scriptures "every day to see if what Paul said was true". We need to examine, study and search the scriptures daily. We need that daily bath for God's Word to cleanse us from the impurities of this world. ~.... And it is okay to search the scriptures to make sure the teaching we are receiving is true or not! We don't need to be gullible about important matters of doctrine. We need to learn to study for ourselves how to discern the Truth of God's Word.

Daily.

That reminds me of the old commercials, "Got Milk?" Have you had your Word today?!

blessings,
dorinda