THINK FOR YOURSELF

Acts 17:11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to check up on Paul and Silas, to see if they were really teaching the truth.  NLT

      Wait a minute. The people of Berea searched the Scriptures to check up on Paul and Silas to make sure they were telling it like it is? Paul, the pillar of the Church and author of much of the New Testament??? Why would anyone question Paul and Silas?

        It makes no difference who we are; we are all capable of err in our thinking and teaching. No one is so spiritually-minded that they can't mess up in their interpretation of the Scriptures. No matter how educated a person may be, how long they have been a Christian, or what they may have accomplished for Christ, he is capable of err.

       The Scriptures are our sole authority for life and practice. What we read and hear must be evaluated in light of the Scriptures. Do not accept anything as being true until you evaluate it in light of what God says in His Word. Think for yourself over the Word, and if what you read and hear ring true, then learn from it and seek to apply it to life.

      One of the church's biggest problems is that we are not well-grounded in the Scriptures. We don't often think for ourselves about what the Scriptures say. We let others do our thinking for us. You will never grow spiritually until you examine the Scriptures for yourself and let the Lord speak to you from it.  Besides, we remember best what we discover to be true from our own study and meditations.

      May the Lord bless you as you study the Scriptures for yourself so that you will be a workman that needs not to be ashamed.