Live the Christian Faith: Berean Style! Part 2

What lessons can we learn from the Bereans?  Let’s see what we can find out.  Part 2

Live the Christian Faith: Berean Style!  Part 2
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.
Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
Acts 17: 11-12

In this 3 part series we’re studying the “Bereans” in the book of Acts to see if we can’t find examples for how Christians should live out their faith in today’s world.
In Part 1 we touched briefly on how the Bereans, even though they weren’t Christian, set an excellent example for Christians to follow.  There we focused on the “Live it!” aspect of our Know it! Live it! Share it! motto.  In this short article I’d like to focus on how the Bereans challenge us “Know it!” when it comes to our faith. 
Notice the second part of verse 11, 
“and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
I looked up the word “search” and found that it means: 
“to look into or over carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something”
The dictionary also included this: 
“to make painstaking investigation or examination”
Talk about an example to follow!  This wasn’t a simple look at Wikipedia and be done with it.  We’re told it was a “painstaking investigation!”   This really causes me to think.  I just purchased a big name Bible Software program.  I have over 2,000 resources in there.  I can’t even figure out how to open some of them!!!! 
What did the Bereans “painstakingly” investigate?  What did they KNOW?  The “Scriptures!”  I’m not chucking stones at you on this one, this is a personal challenge for me to spend more time in the Word of God and not as much time in other sources! 
Don’t get me wrong, study sources are good and can have a huge impact on our correctly understanding and interpreting the Word of God.  But they just can’t hold a candle to studying the Word of God first and foremost. 
Another thing that really struck me was this, did you notice that the Bereans weren’t impressed by the “Superstar” evangelists of the day, Paul and Silas.  These “giants” of the faith graced them with their presence so they accepted everything that they said without question, right?  Not so! 
They didn’t base their acceptance of what they were being taught on how it made them “feel” or if it “made sense” to them or it reinforced what they had “experienced” in their lives? 
NO!  Their acceptance was based on whether or not what they were being taught was consistent with the Word of God! 
I’m afraid that we live in a time when far too many of us are basing what we believe on the wrong standard.  If you want to know if something is true or not you better have a standard to compare what you are being told is true or not. 
Christian, our standard, our authority is the Word of God.  If not, we’re in trouble.  Instead of asking for God to “give us a sign” to know if something is true the Bereans showed us long ago that we should be saying, “Give us the Word!”
What’s encouraging to me is the consequences were when their minds were right, and they got into the Word and studied.
“Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.”
Isn’t that what it’s all about, seeing folks come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? 
By the way, did you notice that belief is tied to the Scriptures!!!!  This hits me so hard.  In a day where more than half of the young folks raised in the church are gone by the time they are 18 and many are Biblically illiterate in spite of all of our Christian Schools, wristbands, t-shirts and books boy do we need to be able and trust the Scriptures.
True belief is going to be directly tied to the truth found in the Scriptures .  We must get into the Word of God and study to show ourselves approved!  To “Know it!” isn’t an option, it’s a requirement. 
Remember, you can have all the answers in the world (Know it!), but if your life isn’t consistent with what your lips are saying (Live it!) it’s worthless!  God cares more about “Why” we do, than “What” we do!!   Well, may I should say He cares just as much about the “Why” as the “What”!  Blessings and . . .
Stay bold!