Don't Believe Everything You Hear

Acts 17:10-12 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 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. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.

I cannot stress enough the importance of being critical listeners and thinkers, when hearing God's Word preached and taught. However, listening and thinking is not enough. We must also be born again believers who follow up with action. I don't just mean being doers of the Word. I mean truly investigating what we hear before we follow a path paved with false teachings, heresies, and demonic lies. Far too many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are shipwrecking their faith because of a lack of biblical knowledge. We know that the Scriptures were given to us by God Himself. He used godly men to pen His Words. We know that ALL Scripture is profitable. It is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. But before we can live it out, in obedience, for God's glory, we MUST know what it says; and not simply and blindly trust what others tell us. We need to be true students of God's Word so that we are not tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. The Bereans were commended for their wise choice to double check and verify what the Apostle Paul taught them. As a matter of fact, they were commended even more than the believers at Thessalonica. Paul commended those believers because they received the Word with much affliction, with joy, and proclaimed it forward, becoming an example in Macedonia and Achaia. Yet, the Bereans were identified as being "more fair-minded" than those in Thessolanica. When we fail to study for ourselves, and verify what we hear, we stand the chance that we ourselves will pass on false teachings and heresies; making us no better than false teachers. Let us be students of the Word, who dissect it, dig into it in the power of the Holy Spirit, being people who are approved, acceptable, and pleasing to God. Our goal is not to impress men and women with how much we know, or think we know. Our goal is to know and live God's truth for His glory; so that we live a life of real intimacy with God, truly knowing Him for who He tells us He is.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).