The Searcher

The apostle Paul was the preacher. The audience heard his message. But, they didn’t stop there. They examined the written word of God to see if what Paul was teaching was true. The Bible says they “searched” the scriptures.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so (Acts 17:11 KJV).

In your Christian Life, how often do you search the scriptures? Do you believe what you believe about Jesus and The Christian Life because you have read it in the gospel, or are you doing what you’ve always done and believing what you’ve always been told without actually going to God’s word to see if that’s what it really says? How about it?

It’s important that our beliefs and practices mesh with God’s word. If it isn’t important, what sense do we make out of Acts 17:11 above? These people were called “noble” by God because of their reliance upon His word. Feelings, opinions, hearsay, learned pontifications, etc. are not the word of God.

Are you noble like these people from Berea? If you are, you will (like they did) examine your feelings, beliefs, and practices in light of the Bible.

Here are some thoughts to get you started:

Divorce and remarriage. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery (Matthew 19:9 KJV).

Homosexuality. Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NKJV).

Money. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10 NKJV).

Faith. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone (James 2:17 KJV).

Hate. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:32 NKJV).