Daily Reading: Acts 16-17
Acts 17:11
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.
In my opinion, the favorite exercise of most people is either running people down or jumping to conclusions. We find these two activities heavily employed throughout the Book of Acts. Yet, on rare occasions, we read of people like those of Berea. The Word of God proclaims that they were more noble than others because they received the Word of God readily, ostensibly through a daily search of the Scriptures. They proved to themselves, from the Scriptures, whether the things that Paul and Silas taught were true or false.
Most of those reading may know my testimony. I was a businessman in the corporate world, my job was one anyone would love to have. It was great. If I were to tell of all of the perks and benefits of the positions I held, most would either take me for a fibber, or a boaster, I don’t want that. So just leave it at this, it was a career position that few walk away from willingly or easily. But I did. Why?
I began to study the Scriptures. Attending church as a young person, a teen and even a young married man I was lost, meaning I was not born again of the Spirit or any other name by which one may call it. I came to realize at 26 that I needed a Savior. There my personal journey began. I visited with pastors, I read non-Biblical religious books, I attended various types of churches, and I prayed. But then I began reading the Bible. One night it all came together; I asked the Lord to save my soul believing He was my only hope for eternal life. I could not be perfect, yet perfection is the price of Heaven. But through Christ extending His perfection to me through faith I was washed of my sins. It was only reasonable after all, as Isaiah said; Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool (Isaiah 1:18). Such a relief it was, and is, to have a loving, giving, and caring Savior meet me at the place of faith, at the foot of the cross.
From then until now, I have studied the Scriptures. For a while, during the first two or three years of pastoring, I strayed from studying them. I needed to make myself accountable to someone, so I enrolled in college classes (having already completed a Seminary program). I earned three additional degrees culminating with a Ph.D. The degrees mean little or nothing, but the study…that is the benefit. I am not more noble than anyone, nor smarter, nor more intellectual, but I do have one aspect that has served me well. No one is going to tell me anything about the Lord God that I do not, will not, or have not studied out for myself. My responsibility to myself is to prove to myself all God wants me to know. This can only be done through a continual, daily, and lifelong search of the Scriptures.
I can only pray that I can assist others to develop the same mindset, which is this: search the Scriptures for yourself to prove whether or not what someone else says about them is true. That hope and prayer is the basis of the Read-to-Read program, Daily Devotions, Podcasts, Preaching, Teaching, and Radio program; to stimulate others to search the Scriptures daily. For to the child of God the Word of God is the bread of life.
Until tomorrow, live for Christ today.