Acts 17:11

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.

There is not a lot of information in the Bible regarding the Bereans. Yet we could say, “Be like the Bereans.” In saying that I am of course referring to this scripture and the Bereans approach to the Word of God.

In our lives we hear all kinds of teaching. You will hear one person say one thing and another say something contradictory, and they will use the same scripture to back up their point. Often times when a message is presented it seems like sound teaching, but people make mistakes. We are human; sometimes we misinterpret the Word of God. Then there are those who do it on purpose to use the Word to persuade people to their way of thinking.

That is why it is important to get into the Word yourself. You must read the scriptures in context. Don’t just take out what you want and leave the rest. What is in there, God allowed to be in there. According to 2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

Sometimes it is hard to hear the Spirit of God among all the other voices in our head. We hear something and then we are not sure if it is truth or not. That is why we must follow the example of the Bereans. Every time you hear a message or receive a Word from God, first receive it with eagerness. Then take to the Bible. God will never contradict His Word. If what you are hearing does not line up with the Word toss it out. Get rid of it.

We have the Bible to help keep us grounded. It is important to get to know it. Get it in your heart and mind. Meditate on it. You will find the more you fill your head with God’s Word, the more the other “voices” start to quiet down and it will be easier to hear God speak to you. Then when you hear someone teach, you can receive it eagerly and take it to the Word for confirmation.