Acts 17:11 “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”

BEREANS

Paul had the gift of agitation. Just follow his missionary journeys.  Everywhere he went, with few exceptions, ended with him getting run out of town.  He had a way of inciting people with his words.  But here, in Berea, the people responded differently.  They were students of the Scriptures, so they checked out Paul’s words and found them true.

Are you a Thessalonian or a Berean?  Do you get agitated and upset when something someone says convicts you?  Do you say, “How dare they judge me?”  Paul didn’t mind upsetting people if it meant they might be convicted and turn to the Lord.  His goal was not to make friends.  He wanted to make disciples.  Don’t misunderstand me.  We don’t want to insult people, but we do want them to see their sins and confess them to Christ.

TEACHING MOMENT

You need to be careful with your children to not constantly point out their sins.  It is not your job to force confessions out of them.  No amount of nagging and scolding is going to bring them to repentance.  You need to present the truth to them and show them how their choices don’t measure up to God’s Word.  You are ALWAYS to point it back to the Word, not what you think is best.

Give them verses to read that deal with the issues they are facing.  Show them through your life that it is God’s Word that guides you. As appropriate, share stories with them of your own struggles and how God’s Word directed you.

As you go through your day meditate on these words and see how you compare: “examining the Scriptures daily.”  There is NO OTHER WAY to ensure you will make good choices.  Do not rely on any other source.  TRUST THE WORD!