PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Acts 17:10-15
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“They examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:11)
The noble Berean Jews were open and eager, not hostile to the message of Jesus.
They didn’t swallow it whole, but dug deep into the scriptures to confirm it.
This is how the Bereans were “more noble”, they were not close-minded to Paul.
As followers of Jesus, we can learn from the nobility of the Bereans.
To not be close-minded, but neither to simply accept everything new as true.
We take every thought captive to Christ, we evaluate every teaching through Jesus.
There are many many competing truth claims, and we need to be discerning.
We process what we hear with Jesus, and compare it to what he said and did.
It still will not be easy, there will still be many differences of opinion.
Sadly many christians have responded to new ideas like the Thessalonians.
Close-minded, angry, harsh, with slander and malicious words and actions.
I’m not saying we cannot disagree, or express what we believe to be true.
But we speak the truth in love and are gracious to those we disagree with.
We are open to what Jesus can teach us, even in our differences.
This is how I understand what it means to be “of more noble character.”
PRAYER
Lord, there are many different ideas claiming to be from you. The debates of our day can get nasty. Help me to remain noble, even as I listen for your Voice in all the truth claims around me.
The writer describes the Berean Jews of being of more noble character – “they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day”. In my mind they were more respectful and open to listen to what Paul and his team were saying – they did not right away confront or block and open discussion. This is what we hope for when given the opportunity to share our faith – the reason why we believe and the chance to open the scriptures. Still others heard and wanted to put a stop to it so Paul moved to Athens while Timothy and Silas stayed behind. I have to remember that I too am a messenger and I can’t persuade anyone – only the HS can do that. Use me Lord, use even me!
The word is being sowed by His followers.
Some receive the good news eagerly and dig deeper into the Word of the Lord. They hunger to know more.
But there are others who receive the word their own way and their viewpoint is the only way. They sow seeds of discord.
The Word proclaimed is God’s Word and it the tie that binds His people together in love. It is God’s way. Love God. Love one another. His love is the tie that binds.
Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.