DRAWING NEAR
October 1
How to be Noble Minded
"[The Bereans] were more noble-minded than those in
Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness,
examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were
so" (Acts 17:11).
God honors spiritual discernment.
On his second missionary journey, Paul, accompanied by Silas,
preached the gospel of Jesus Christ in the city of Thessalonica. They
weren't there long before the gospel took root and many turned from
their idolatry to serve the true and living God (1 Thess. 1:9). In 1
Thessalonians 2:13 Paul says, "We also constantly thank God that when
you received from us the word of God's message, you accepted it not
as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God."
Their open response to God's Word made them an example to all the
believers in that area (1 Thess. 1:7).
But as exemplary as the Thessalonians were, their fellow believers in
Berea were even more so. God called them "noble- minded" (Acts
17:11). They were eager to hear what Paul and Silas had to say, but
tested it against God's prior revelation in the Old Testament before
receiving it as a message from God. They had learned to examine
everything carefully and hold fast to the truth (1 Thess. 5:21).
The church today, however, has an appalling lack of that kind of
discernment. Many believers are duped by novel teachings and outright
heresies. They're "tossed here and there by waves, and carried about
by every wind of doctrine" (Eph. 4:14). We desperately need a new
breed of Bereans who will raise high the banner of sound doctrine and
never compromise it.
With that goal in mind, our studies this month will focus on the
character and benefits of God's Word. You'll learn that it's the
source of spiritual growth, spiritual service, blessing, victory,
truth, and knowledge. You'll see its infallibility, inerrancy,
authority, inspiration, and sufficiency.
I pray that by this month's end, your commitment to learning and
applying biblical truth will be stronger than ever, and you will
indeed be a modern-day, noble-minded Berean.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Ask God to give you a greater love for His wonderful Word.
For Further Study:
Read Acts 17:1-15.
Why did Paul and his companions leave Thessalonica and Berea?
What do Paul's experiences tell you about what you might expect
as you share Christ with others?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
1 Thessalonians 1:9
9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we
had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living
and true God
1 Thessalonians 1:7
7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who
believe.
1 Thessalonians 5:21
21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
Acts 17:1-15
17:1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they
came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three
Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and
rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I preach to
you is the Christ."
4 And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the
devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and
Silas.
5 But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some
of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all
the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to
bring them out to the people.
6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some
brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have
turned the world upside down have come here too.
7 "Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the
decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king; Jesus."
8 And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they
heard these things.
9 So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let
them go.
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.
13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God
was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up
the crowds.
14 Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea;
but both Silas and Timothy remained there.
15 So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving
a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they
departed.
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
http://www.gty.org/Gospel
http://www.gty.org/
http://www.nwbible.org/
To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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