R³ Devotional - Day 330
R³ Devotional - Day 330 - Acts 17
By: Anderson Baptist Church
The Bereans are described as "more noble than those in Thessalonica" (Acts 17:11). This nobility was demonstrated in two key actions:
They received the word with all readiness (openness, eagerness).
They examined the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul and Silas preached was true (verification, diligence).
Their nobility wasn't a matter of social class but of spiritual character. They didn't accept teaching blindly, nor did they reject it out of prejudice. They combined an open heart to receive the message with a discerning mind to confirm it by Scripture.
Real Life Principle: Open-Minded Scrutiny
The need for active, personal engagement with God's Word as the final authority for truth. We must be both eager to learn and diligent to verify.
Eagerness: Having a teachable spirit that is genuinely curious and ready to hear from God, even if the message challenges pre-existing beliefs or traditions.
Verification: Recognizing that the Bible is the ultimate standard (norma normans). All sermons, devotionals, podcasts, books, and even long-held personal beliefs must be held up against the clear teaching of Scripture to ensure accuracy.
Relevant Applications
Evaluating Teaching: Don't blindly accept everything you hear from a pastor, author, or social media influencer—no matter how popular or respected they are. Use the Bible to fact-check the claims. If a passage is quoted, look up the context to make sure it's being interpreted correctly.
Personal Growth: The Bereans examined the Scriptures daily. This wasn't a one-time event but a consistent lifestyle. Spiritual maturity comes from regularly immersing ourselves in the Word, letting it be the voice that shapes our worldview and conduct.
Handling Doubt: When faced with difficult questions or doubts about your faith, don't run from the Scripture; run to it. The Bereans weren't afraid to test the message; their honest examination led to belief for many of them (Acts 17:12). Scrutiny, when done with a desire for truth, can strengthen faith.
Ready Action Steps.
Commit to "Daily Diving" Diligence Dedicate at least 15 minutes each day to reading the Bible, not just a devotional about the Bible. Choose a book of the Bible and read it systematically.
Ask the "Is It So?" Question
Verification The next time you listen to a sermon, podcast, or Christian teaching, have your Bible or a Bible app open. When a key point or Scripture is cited, pause and look it up to verify the context.
Pray for an "Eager Heart" Openness Before you read or listen to a message, pray the psalmist's prayer: "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law" (Psalm 119:18, ESV). Ask God to guard you against both cynicism and gullibility.
They received the word with all readiness (openness, eagerness).
They examined the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul and Silas preached was true (verification, diligence).
Their nobility wasn't a matter of social class but of spiritual character. They didn't accept teaching blindly, nor did they reject it out of prejudice. They combined an open heart to receive the message with a discerning mind to confirm it by Scripture.
Real Life Principle: Open-Minded Scrutiny
The need for active, personal engagement with God's Word as the final authority for truth. We must be both eager to learn and diligent to verify.
Eagerness: Having a teachable spirit that is genuinely curious and ready to hear from God, even if the message challenges pre-existing beliefs or traditions.
Verification: Recognizing that the Bible is the ultimate standard (norma normans). All sermons, devotionals, podcasts, books, and even long-held personal beliefs must be held up against the clear teaching of Scripture to ensure accuracy.
Relevant Applications
Evaluating Teaching: Don't blindly accept everything you hear from a pastor, author, or social media influencer—no matter how popular or respected they are. Use the Bible to fact-check the claims. If a passage is quoted, look up the context to make sure it's being interpreted correctly.
Personal Growth: The Bereans examined the Scriptures daily. This wasn't a one-time event but a consistent lifestyle. Spiritual maturity comes from regularly immersing ourselves in the Word, letting it be the voice that shapes our worldview and conduct.
Handling Doubt: When faced with difficult questions or doubts about your faith, don't run from the Scripture; run to it. The Bereans weren't afraid to test the message; their honest examination led to belief for many of them (Acts 17:12). Scrutiny, when done with a desire for truth, can strengthen faith.
Ready Action Steps.
Commit to "Daily Diving" Diligence Dedicate at least 15 minutes each day to reading the Bible, not just a devotional about the Bible. Choose a book of the Bible and read it systematically.
Ask the "Is It So?" Question
Verification The next time you listen to a sermon, podcast, or Christian teaching, have your Bible or a Bible app open. When a key point or Scripture is cited, pause and look it up to verify the context.
Pray for an "Eager Heart" Openness Before you read or listen to a message, pray the psalmist's prayer: "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law" (Psalm 119:18, ESV). Ask God to guard you against both cynicism and gullibility.
Recent
Archive
2025
January
R³ Devotional - Day 1R³ Devotional - Day 2R³ Devotional - Day 3R³ Devotional - Day 4R³ Devotional - Day 5 R³ Devotional - Day 6R³ Devotional - Day 7R³ Devotional - Day 8R³ Devotional - Day 9R³ Devotional - Day 10R³ Devotional - Day 11R³ Devotional - Day 12R³ Devotional - Day 13R³ Devotional - Day 14R³ Devotional - Day 15R³ Devotional - Day 16R³ Devotional - Day 17R³ Devotional - Day 18R³ Devotional - Day 19R³ Devotional - Day 20R³ Devotional - Day 21R³ Devotional - Day 22R³ Devotional - Day 23R³ Devotional - Day 24R³ Devotional - Day 25R³ Devotional - Day 26R³ Devotional - Day 27R³ Devotional - Day 28R³ Devotional - Day 29R³ Devotional - Day 30R³ Devotional - Day 31
February
R³ Devotional - Day 32R³ Devotional - Day 33R³ Devotional - Day 34R³ Devotional - Day 35R³ Devotional - Day 36R³ Devotional - Day 37R³ Devotional - Day 38R³ Devotional - Day 39R³ Devotional - Day 40R³ Devotional - Day 41R³ Devotional - Day 42R³ Devotional - Day 43R³ Devotional - Day 44R³ Devotional - Day 45R³ Devotional - Day 46R³ Devotional - Day 47R³ Devotional - Day 48R³ Devotional - Day 49R³ Devotional - Day 50R³ Devotional - Day 51R³ Devotional - Day 52R³ Devotional - Day 53R³ Devotional - Day 54R³ Devotional - Day 55R³ Devotional - Day 56R³ Devotional - Day 57R³ Devotional - Day 58R³ Devotional - Day 59
March
R³ Devotional - Day 60R³ Devotional - Day 61R³ Devotional - Day 62R³ Devotional - Day 63R³ Devotional - Day 64R³ Devotional - Day 65R³ Devotional - Day 66R³ Devotional - Day 67R³ Devotional - Day 68R³ Devotional - Day 69R³ Devotional - Day 70R³ Devotional - Day 71R³ Devotional - Day 72R³ Devotional - Day 73R³ Devotional - Day 74R³ Devotional - Day 75R³ Devotional - Day 76R³ Devotional - Day 77R³ Devotional - Day 78 R³ Devotional - Day 79R³ Devotional - Day 80R³ Devotional - Day 81R³ Devotional - Day 82R³ Devotional - Day 83R³ Devotional - Day 84R³ Devotional - Day 85R³ Devotional - Day 86R³ Devotional - Day 87R³ Devotional - Day 88R³ Devotional - Day 89R³ Devotional - Day 90
Categories
no categories