Acts 17:11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. New King James Version (NKJV)
While visiting our daughter last weekend we had the privilege to hear a message from Erwin McMannus from Joshua chapter one. It was about finding our identity in God and in Jesus Christ. I appreciated how he "dug" into the passage, uncovering, revealing the setting, circumstances and context of the passage. After the service and the following morning I went back to that passage to read and re-read it.
Reading today's verse reminded me of his sermon, not because of my reading or studying but in Erwin's searching the scriptures. When Paul wrote this book I believe he was primarily referring to the Old Testament as the New Testament as we know it, was not yet written let alone assembled. I was reminded how much we can learn from the Old Testament, how relevant and applicable it still is, and how tragic it is that much of it is avoided by the modern church.
I also read the following quote by Charles Spurgeon, "The person who skims the Book of God will not profit from it. We must dig and mine until we obtain the treasure! The door of the Word only opens to the key of diligence. The scriptures demand to be searched. These are the writings of God, bearing the divine stamp and imprimatur- who shall dare to treat them casually? To despise them is to despise the God who wrote them. God forbid that any of us should allow our Bibles to become witnesses against us in the great day of account."
As we hear from God's Word, may we be like the Berean's and go back and examine the Word, the passages to see that these things are so.
Acts 17:10-12
New King James Version (NKJV)
Ministering at Berea
10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.
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