A short reading and prayers for today
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 NLT
Every preacher and bible teacher longs to meet people like these Bereans! They were really open to the Christian message but they didn’t simply accept everything that Paul and Silas had to say. They looked carefully at the Old Testament scriptures to make sure that what they had been taught was right. Having been a preacher and Bible teacher for many years I can’t tell you how much I love it when people question what I’ve said. Although I will always seek to write and preach carefully, I’m far from perfect, and I need to be kept on my toes. I find it really exciting when I hear that people are seriously studying the Scriptures and reflecting on what it means. I almost always learn more when people ask questions.
I encourage you to get to grips with the Bible. If these daily notes help to interest you in God’s word that’s great but I would always encourage you to do more digging. It is particularly valuable to get to grips with the whole range of the Bible. Some parts of the Bible are easy to understand and bring immediate encouragement. Others are harder work and you will need to spend much more time to understand their meaning. But it is all the word of God and you will gain enormous blessing from getting to know it better. Premier now produces a very helpful podcast which takes you through the Bible in a Year. For about 15 minutes a day you will be transported through the amazing unfolding story of God’s love for the world. Or perhaps you want to dig even deeper and follow one of the many excellent Bible study courses that are on offer.
We are all different and there isn’t one right way of studying the Bible. But what matters is that, like the Bereans, we are open minded and always eager to learn more.
QUESTION
What are you doing to get to grips with the Bible?
PRAYERS
Lord God, thank you for the gift of the Bible. Thank you for the way it shows me who you are and how you want to be at work in the world today. Amen
Lord, we pray thee
that thy grace may always prevent and follow us,
and make us continually to be given to all good works;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Almighty God,
you have made us for yourself,
and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you:
Teach us to offer ourselves to your service,
that here we may have your peace,
and in the world to come may see you face to face;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.