Now the Berean's were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
Thoughts for Today:How often have you gone to church and listened to your pastor preach, been inspired, then upon arriving home opened your Bible and "examined" it to see if what you heard was true? Not too often I would guess. Do you go to church "with great eagerness" to hear your pastor's message but unlike the Berean's your learning stops right there? If so, you might be one of those who like an infant of the faith is still being fed milk. Paul says in 1 Corinthian 3:2, "I gave you milk not solid food, for you are not ready for it. Indeed you are still not ready for it."
So what is the difference between milk and solid food, and how do we get ready for it? Hebrews 5:13-14, "Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." In other words you have to open your Bible, read and study it often, not taking anyone's opinion for absolute truth (including a pastor or other teacher). It is by constantly using your Bible you will train yourself to distinguish good from evil, and you will become mature -- no longer an infant.
Questions to Ponder:The Berean's heard the message preached by Paul with great eagerness. But that is not where their learning stopped; they then "examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." Now that is demonstrating great maturity and "noble character."
How noble is your character as you listen to your pastor preach? How mature is your faith? Are you still on feeding on milk or have you grown to a place where you feed on solider food? Begin this weekend. Take the notes from the weekend message -- look up the Scriptures; read the context; ask yourself "What is the Big Idea?"; determine one personal application for the coming week. These are just few small steps you can take towards training yourself.