The Bereans were among a small group of Paul's Jewish kinsmen who were eager to receive the message Paul preached, and therefore the salvation he offered to them in Christ. They listened attentively and eagerly to the gospel. They were open-minded and ready to hear more and more of what God had to say to them. The conduct of these Jews cannot be too highly commended, or too closely imitated. A common sin of men today is a refusal to examine candidly and patiently the claims of the gospel.

The parable of the sower reveals that one's attitude of heart is a good predictor of how the seed of the kingdom will prosper in their lives (Luke 8:4-8, 11-15). The Jews on the day of Pentecost were "cut to the heart" and 3,000 of them obeyed the gospel of Christ that same day (Acts 2:37-41). The Jews in Stephen's audience were also "cut to the heart," but they killed the messenger (Acts 7:54, 57-58). In both cases, the conscience was pricked by the message preached, but the hearers reacted differently because of different attitudes of heart.

Think of how David received the news about his sin. When Nathan rebuked David for his adultery, David humbly said, "I have sinned against the Lord." (2 Sam. 12:13). He did not attempt to blame Bathsheba, nor did he rebuke Nathan -- he received the God's word in a way that would bring him back into conformity with the will of God. How do you receive the word of God when it challenges your life? How do you react when someone points out that your behavior is not becoming for a child of the King? When someone shows that your attitude is carnal and not befitting children of righteousness? Do you want to fire the preacher, or kill the messenger? Will that save your soul, or just anesthetize your guilty conscience?

The Scriptures they studied were the Old Testament books. Either these people had copies of the scrolls in their homes where they could examine what Paul preached, or else they went to the synagogue to study the rolls of the Scriptures kept there. The fact that this was done daily implies that Paul spent some time there. Why did the Bereans study the Scriptures "daily"? Hadn't an apostle of Christ preached to them? Yes, but they wanted to see it for themselves. As Paul would tell the saints in Rome, "Let God be true but every man a liar" (Rom. 3:4).

Becoming a Christian involves establishing a new set of habits or patterns in your life, including the "putting off' of the old man of sin, and the "putting on" of the new man (Eph. 4:20-32). One of the best habits you can develop as a Christian is a daily study of the Scriptures. Once this habit is developed and -nurtured, you will be on your way to a greater knowledge of God and His will. Not only that, your daily study of the Scripture will give you boldness in the face of opposition and make you far more effective in teaching others -- you will be able to "save both yourself and those who hear you" (1 Tim. 4:16).

Your daily study of the Scriptures will draw you closer to God, give you peace of mind in this life and prepare you for the world to come. Your life will be blessed as you study and meditate on the word of God (Psa. 1:1-6; 19:7-11). In every case of conversion recorded in the book of Acts, the gospel was preached by men to men (cf. Acts 8:12; 14: l; 18:8). There is not a single example of someone obeying the gospel without first having heard the message of the cross. Since faith comes by hearing, your faith will be increased as you read, study and search the Scriptures! Grace and peace come through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord (2 Pet. 1:2-4).

The Jews in Berea applied seriously to the study of the word preached unto them. They not only heard Paul preach on the Sabbath, but daily searched the Scriptures, and compared what they read with the facts related to them. The doctrine of Christ does not fear inquiry; advocates for His cause desire no more than that people will fully and fairly examine whether things are so or not. Those are truly noble, and likely to be more and more so, who make the Scriptures their rule, and consult them accordingly. May all the hearers of the gospel become like those of Berea, receiving the word with readiness of mind, and searching the Scriptures daily, whether the things preached to them are so." Do you have a spirit as worthy as the noble Bereans?

Eric