Why It’s Important to Search the Scriptures to Know the Truth

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We used to live near a “Berean” church. And Rev and I think it’s was one of the best names ever for a Christian church.

Here’s why:

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 see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. 

Acts 17:11

Isn’t that great!

I can’t imagine what a welcome change that was after the angry, rioting mob they had just experienced in Thessalonica.

But it says the people in Berea “searched the Scriptures day after day to see if [they] were telling the truth.”

What perfect advice for you and me. When there are some false teachers saying Christianity is the secret to financial prosperity and others that there is no hell. When political leaders distort God’s Word and take verses out of context to support their own agendas . . . we need the truth. And if you and I are relying on what people say without searching the Scriptures themselves, we open ourselves up to being misled by the enemy’s lies.

The Life Application Notes add this about verse 11 of Acts 17:

A preacher or teacher who gives God’s true message will never contradict or explain away anything that is found in God’s Word.

Rev and I always told our congregations and Bible Study groups that we are passionate about teaching the truth of Scriptures accurately . . . but they should not take our word for it!

There is no substitute for “searching the Scriptures” ourselves.

A Prayer to Search the Scriptures and Know the Truth

Father, thank you so much for giving us the gift of Your Word. You cared enough about us knowing You and knowing Your truth that You inspired people to see to it that it was written for all generations. Paul wrote to Timothy, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” (2 Timothy 3:16) The writer to the Hebrews said, “the word of God is alive and powerful.” (Hebrews 4:12) And Jesus, Himself said, “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.” (John 17:17)

Please forgive us, Lord. We take Your Word for granted. We read books about Scripture while our Bibles grow dusty on the shelf. We listen to teachers and preachers without searching the Scriptures to know if they are speaking the truth.

By the power of Your Spirit, fill me with a hunger and thirst for Your Truth. Please make me a SEEKer. I pray that You will keep me from being satisfied by teachings that tell me what a want to hear instead of what I need to hear. I love You, Lord, and I want to KNOW, TRUST, and OBEY Your will as You reveal it to me through Your Word and Spirit. I ask this in the name of Jesus, the Word made flesh who lived, died, and rose again to give me LIFE now and forever. Amen.

I wonder if we’re not guilty of taking God’s Word for granted. We’ve gotten comfortable being entertained and exhilarated. We don’t want to read the hard parts. We don’t want to be challenged. And we definitely don’t want to learn that we’re falling short.

But what if we’re missing the best part of God’s gift of grace because we’re settling for this…

The time is coming when they will no longer listen and respond to the healing words of truth because they will become selfish and proud. They will seek out teachers with soothing words that line up with their desires, saying just what they want to hear.

2 Timothy 4:3 (TPT)

May we make a commitment today to consider ourselves Bereans who “search the Scripture” to know the truth.

On today’s note write:

I commit to faithfully searching the Scriptures.

May God bless you today as You turn to Him through His Word and prayer.

You may always want to check out- How to Read the Bible in a Way that Will Change Your Life.

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