Receiving the Word with all Readiness of Mind

 

Many today react poorly to hearing the word of God more fully expounded, they walk away rejecting the truth. Most Christians only want to hear what they already know and think is correct. They can be similar to those who Paul encountered at Thessalonica and Athens. But there are some who want to grow and have open minds and hearts to hear the truth of the word of God even if it differs from what they currently think.

In Acts 17:1-9 we read how in Thessalonica Paul “reasoned out of the Scriptures” for three sabbath days with men who were unwilling to be convinced of the truth of the gospel. The narrow-mindedness of these Thessalonians not only kept them in spiritual darkness, but it moved them to bitter opposition to the truth, so that they persecuted Paul and Silas and even followed them to Berea, stirring people up against them.

Narrow-mindedness has the same effect today. May we never close our minds with the idea that we will thereby keep error out, for in doing so we will only shut out new light and close old errors in. Moreover, it is but a small step from shutting out new light from God’s Word to engaging in bitter opposition against it.

Then there was the Athenians who went to the other extreme. They lost interest in what was old and clamored only to ‘hear new things’ (Acts 17:21). Yet, when Paul came to them with the good news of “the gospel of the grace of God,” some “mocked” while the other more politer ones, said: “We will hear thee again of this matter,” and they turned away (Verse 32).

The same Athenian spirit is also still prevalent today. Many are constantly giving up the old and looking for something new, sure that the latest things, the latest fashions, the latest statistics and the latest advice must be best. This is why the Neo Evangelicalism has gained so many followers in our day with their man-centered seeker-sensitive word message that has taken root; while leaving out the true Cross centered gospel of Christ.

Significantly, the story of the noble Bereans falls between those of the Thessalonians and the Athenians in our Bibles.

“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 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 (that Paul preached) were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.” (Acts 17:10-12)

These Bereans (Jews and Gentiles) possessed true spiritual greatness. They gave man’s word respectful consideration, whether old or new, but then they subjected it to careful examination in the light of the Word of God. The Bereans received Paul’s words, we read, with open minds, and then they “searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Verse 11). After all, Paul’s gospel was radically different for any Jew to hear. For this God called them “noble.” They could be considered the spiritual aristocracy of their day.

May God help us to be neither “Thessalonians” nor “Athenians,” but true “Bereans.” If we follow men we drift on a sea of human speculation, for men disagree on the most vital issues. Only as we stand on the infallible, unchangeable Word of God can we be sure that we have the truth. May we permit the Holy Spirit enlightened “word of God” to continually permeate our hearts and minds.