Acts 17:10-15

Read: Acts 17:10-15

After the debacle in Thessalonica Paul and Silas are sent to
Berea. I love the persistence of these two men. Instead of being discouraged because of the trouble they had been in over at Thessalonica, when they get to
Berea the continue to preach Jesus. Paul and Silas went first to the synagogue and then to the Gentiles and appears to have had a measure of success there. The Bereans are said to have been of “noble character” and studied the Scriptures to investigate Paul’s claims about the Christ. Because of their hunger for the Word of God, many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men (17:12)

I got to thinking about what other people, namely those outside the church thought about us. Are living in such a way that others recognize that there is something different about us. Do others, outside as well as inside the church see you like the Bereans, having noble character or are you more like the trouble makers from yesterday’s reading? I read a story the other day from Patrick Meade about a golf outing he was a part of not long ago. He was paired with an unbeliever who was violent man, cheated throughout the afternoon, and cursed more than he breathed. But, Patrick was kind to the man, and helpful all day long, helping him locate a lost ball or finding where this man’s tee shot landed. Two of the other golfers later in the day asked Patrick why he continued to be kind to the gentleman who was mean to him. Patrick’s response was, before he left the house that day, he had decided he was going to have a good day and no one except him was going to be able to take that away. What about you? What kind of day have you decided to live today? Are you willing to be like Jesus even when others give you grief?

By the time we get to the end of reading today, the Jews from Thessalonica who caused so much trouble came to
Berea to stir up trouble for Paul. And Paul had to leave the city again, only this time Timothy and Silas remain Berea, and heads to
Athens. What Luke tells us about the Bereans is running through my mind, they were of noble character and studied the Scriptures. I am lead to ask this question, how hungry are you for more of God’s Word? Do you read the Bible for yourself or are you content with just letting others tell you what the Bible means? I want you to know that the Word of God is for everyone. The stories in the Bible were written thousands of years ago, but they are still relevant for us today? Romans 15:4, puts it this way, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” I have always found it amazing that God’s word is relevant. For almost all of our issues are addressed, and the best place to go when you are hurting and overwhelmed or you’ve beaten and bruised by the world is on your knees in prayer and in the Word of God. I hope you are hungry for Jesus even says, “blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).