DECEMBER 18, Acts 17:10-15

The apostle Paul and Silas visited Berea during their second missionary journey. There, Paul preached to the Jews in the synagogue. The Jews there had a good heart and true mind and were receptive to what Paul preached. Although they were open to hearing the gospel they checked what Paul had said against the Old Testament Scriptures. They found the gospel Paul preached to be consistent with the Old Testament Scriptures. As a consequence, many of them believed and were saved. Not only Jews but also many Gentiles became Christians in Berea. Their lives were also transformed. This was evident in the way they helped Paul to escape to Athens when the Jews from Thessalonica came to Berea to persecute Paul. These Jews came to Berea to incite the Berean people against Paul. The Berean Christians therefore showed evidence of their faith through their works.

What spiritual lessons can you learn from the Berean Christians? The Berean Christians diligently studied the Scriptures. Do you diligently study the Bible like the Bereans and examine what it says? The Bereans also regarded the Scriptures reverentially. Is the Bible your sole source of authority and truth? For example, if your teacher in school teaches you that man came about through evolution but you know from the Bible that God created man, who will you believe? The Berean Christians not only studied the Bible but obeyed what the Bible taught them. Do you also obey what the Bible teaches you?

Thought: God gave us His precious Word, the Bible.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your precious Word, the Bible. Help me not only to be a hearer but also doer of Thy Word. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.