And searched the scriptures daily

Act 17:11 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 were so.

Good morning again dear friends, and I hope yesterday was a wonderful day for you. Early in the hours of this morning I was burdened as I was awoken with this thought throughout the night. Friend my desire for myself and for you is to become so familiar with the Word of God that you and I may be made perfect that is mature. I pray that we could read the Word of God so much that if they came and ripped the Bible out of my hands that it would be written upon my heart. I am so dismayed with hearing about people that are hurt by irrelevant preaching, by advice from others that only have a shallow understanding of the Word of God. Friend I encourage you today to get into the old Blessed Book and read and pray, and cry unto the Lord. I was encouraged by this thought of scripture this morning as those folks that were in the early church had enough sense to prepare themselves. In this verse we see three things that make sense for all of us to do on a daily basis.

1. They received the Word with all readiness of mind- Friends, they were prepared to accept the message from the preacher, they wanted to hear what the scripture says. Their hearts were prepared to listen. They didn't pick up some goofy self help book, they didn't turn on the smiling false teachers of today's generation. No friends they were found in church in their rightful places desiring to glean something from God. They had put off every distraction from themselves, they quit thinking about what time it was, and had their mind on the only true God. They quit worrying about the next day as that day wasn't there yet.
2. They searched the scriptures daily- They not only received the Word, they read it again, and again. They were more known than others for their heart to read the Word and study it rather than just sit there and hear it. They meditated on it no doubt, so that they may apply what was given to them to their lives for a change in their lives to honor God. They did this daily, is the Bible in your house all wore out, does it only get brought out during church time? Are the pages of that dear old Bible so crisp that when you flip it open during church you can hear it ruffling around? Friend I encourage you to wear it out, become so familiar with it daily that it is just a part of you. Make it the engrafted Word in your heart, and hide its words in your heart that you might not sin against God. David read the Scriptures line upon line, and precept upon precept.
3. Whether those things were so- Now friend I want you to understand what the Bible is saying here. First off you must be prepared to understand, and accept the truth..that is the Word of God, then you must study it daily and learn to rightly divide the truth. While doing this you can apply the last part of this verse with humility. Don't take this verse as a freedom to question every thing in a negative context of your pastor or those that would encourage you. Instead understand the meaning behind this..to see if what has been preached or spoken is true word for word under the guidelines of rightly dividing the Word of truth. Friend this is not a ticket to twist scripture so that weak minded Christians might use this and say, "see I told you the preacher was preaching wrong." Instead this should be used by you as an encouragement to read your Bibles and get support your pastor when he is right, and correct people when they are wrong. This correction mind you must be in love, not in an attitude of I know more than you do. Christ Himself corrected, and reminded people of His day of the Scriptures as He spoke with them.

Dear readers I just want to encourage you to get back into the Word if you have left it. If for some reason dear friend you don't own a Bible then e-mail me and I will see what I can do to get one to you. If you have never heard good preaching and would like to know more about Jesus and the Word of God then e-mail also and I will see what I can do to help you find a good church, or missionary if you are in a different country. Dear friend I just want as many that will accept the Word of God within their hearts to truly become a people of the Word again, to understand and apply it for the honor and glory of God.