“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 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. Therefore many of them believed…” – Acts 17:10-12a
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” – Ephesians 5:15-17
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” – Ephesians 6:11
Scripture Reading: Acts 17:1-14
If you like a fast-paced action-adventure story, then the Book of Acts is just your speed. The messages and miracles are intertwined with narrow escapes, constant conflict, and a long list of bad guys.
In Acts 17, Paul and Silas are moving on from Philippi. During their time there (Acts 16), they planted a church in the house of Lydia, cast a demon out of a young woman, took a terrible beating for it, and held a jailhouse praise service that resulted in a miraculous release.
But the action is far from over. They go on to visit the synagogue in Thessalonica, where Paul will preach to the Jews (from their own scriptures) about Jesus Christ. Their reaction is mixed. Some are converted, while others are indignant and offended. The offended then become offenders, stirring up chaos and violence and storming the house of Jason, a local convert who has provided sanctuary for Paul and Silas.
Paul and Silas escape under cover of darkness, and continue their evangelism in the city of Berea. The reception they get in the Berean synagogue is very different. These folks don’t dismiss Paul and Silas out of hand. Instead they investigate the scriptures for themselves (on a “daily” basis, according to Verse 11) and find that Paul’s preaching lines up with the Old Testament.
And then the action picks up again, as the mob from Thessalonica catches up with Paul and Silas. Silas stays behind with Timothy to shore up the Berean believers, but Paul (their primary target) is forced to escape to Athens.
The Thessalonian mob came to town looking for a fight and hoping to tear down any faith that had been built up by Paul and Silas, but I submit to you that the Bereans were battle-ready. And here’s why. While the mob wielded violence, insults, confusion, and a fierce loyalty to Jewish culture and man-made traditions, the Bereans wielded a different kind of sword – the scriptures (Psalm 119:114-116, Ephesians 6:17) – and it kept their faith strong in the midst of intense peer pressure and persecution.
Paul couldn’t stay in Berea forever (and I don’t believe it was God’s will for him to do so). Silas and Timothy stayed for a time, but their ministries would eventually take them elsewhere as well. The Bereans needed a faith that was rooted in their personal relationship with Christ, nurtured through personal, daily study of the scripture, and that need is as real for you and I as it was for them (I Peter 3:5).
Thank God for Bible-believing churches. Make sure you’re a part of one. Thank YOU for reading Heart Medicine. Praise the Lord for fearless, truth-telling pastors and teachers, and cherish fellowship with fellow believers. But don’t stop there. Being battle-ready means making time to be in the Bible and in prayer every day (Psalm 1, Matthew 7:24, Hebrews 4:12-16). If you’re like me, most of your battles don’t take place when you’re in the safety and sanctuary of church. They take place in your own home, on the job, and in the world, where you’re confronted with peer pressure, cultural conflicts, and the occasional angry mob.
Prepare yourself for the unforeseen battles of each day by spending time in God’s Word. It doesn’t have to be a lengthy time (though that certainly can’t hurt). Just strive to make it sincere and consistent. I could probably review the events of the last several weeks and tell you exactly which days I failed to find time for God. How do I know? Because on those days, I failed in multiple other ways that could have been avoided if I had started my day with Him.
I get it. Life is hard. Days are busy. Time is a rare commodity in any woman’s world. But God is faithful, and God’s Word is the great antidote to all the poisons of life in a fallen world (Psalm 119:11, Isaiah 55:11). Conflict waits around every corner, but you can be a conqueror (Romans 8:31-39). Be a Berean, and be battle-ready.
YOUR PRESCRIPTION
Make the time. Start the day with God, and you’ll no doubt end the day praising Him for all He did for you throughout that day. Don’t be blindsided by the battles that He wants to prepare you for. Get in His Word, and get battle-ready.
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