Reading for today: Acts 17:10-15
Because of the trouble in Thessalonica, the followers of Christ sent Paul and Silas to Berea, which was some 50 miles away. This city was off the main Egnatian Road they had been following, and the believers may have thought they would be safer there.
The Bereans did respond quite differently. Instead of reacting against Paul's messsage, they welcomed the Word with all kinds of eagerness, zeal, and enthusiasm. Even more importantly, they examined the Scriptures daily, searching it out like lawyers investigating a case, to see whether the things Paul was telling them were true.
Many of both the Jews and Gentiles believed. When the news traveled back to Thessalonica, the unbelieving Jews there came to Berea to cause trouble. Before they could do nay damage, the Berean Christians hurried Paul off in the direction of the Aegean Sea, while Silas and Timothy stayed behind to teach and encourage the believers in Berea.
The men accompanying Paul took him on to Athens, from where he sent them back with a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as quickly as possible.
The significant thing about these few verses is the Bereans' thirst for truth. They gave themselves fully to reading, studying, and searching the Word of God so that they would know what was truth. What an example for us to imitate! It is so vital for us to commit ourselves to regularly reading and learning from the Bible. It is such a healthy discipline for us to adopt into our lives, and it will pay wonderful benefits.
It is interesting to me that Paul never had to correct these believers, at least not from the volume of writing that we have from him. I can't help but think that this was true because they immersed themselves in the Word, and it helped them to live lives that were right in line with God's will. Wouldn't it be great if the same thing could be said about all the family here at CLF? What a powerful testimony that would be in our community!
Tomorrow: Athens---the home of 30,000 idols
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