examining the scriptures

Lots of kids growing up pretend to be things like animals, professional athletes and rock stars—I certainly did. But I wonder how many kids pretended to be a college student like me?

You see, I’ve always loved to learn new things and my dad encouraged that zeal by bringing me to the university where he taught. I remember hanging out in his lab and watching him perform experiments, visiting the library, and walking the busy campus.  

Those experiences made such a big impression on me that I’d go in the basement at home—where nobody else was around—grab a pile of my dad’s books and become a college student. That is, a college student in my imagination.

Naturally I was exceptionally bright and made straight “A”s, despite being a star athlete in several sports. And yes, in case you’re wondering, I was also pretty popular with the ladies.

Alas, my imagination was never based on reality.

I am, however, still passionate about learning new things. It’s what drives everything I do and my appetite for new discoveries is never satisfied. Thus, when I became a Christian as a 35-year-old man, my zeal to learn was devoted almost exclusively to learning about the Lord.

In fact, I’ve always identified with a couple of verses in the New Testament book called Acts. The Apostle Paul and his ministry colleague are going from town to town teaching people about Christ. And while there are all kinds of way to react to the good news about Jesus, these people take home the prize.   

“As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”1

Now, I’m not saying I’m noble like the Bereans—in fact, those who are closest to me wouldn’t be caught dead putting that label on me!—but I do like to examine “the Scriptures.” In fact, I like it a lot. A whole lot.

What about you? Do you examine “the Scriptures” on a regular basis? If so, you’re no doubt growing in your faith, especially if you’re implementing what you’re learning. Spiritual maturity here we come.

On the other hand, if you’re not examining “the Scriptures” on a regular basis then you’re probably struggling in your faith and short-circuiting your spiritual maturity. I don’t want to be mean—just calling it the way it is.

When it comes to growing in our faith and becoming more spiritually mature there’s nothing like learning and re-learning biblical truth. But in order for that to happen we need to consciously and diligently read our Bibles, always seeking more truth, always absorbing as much as we can.

While some of you no doubt are examining “the Scriptures” on a regular basis, some of you may not be. Don’t fret if you find yourself in the latter category because it’s never too late to get started.

You could just open your Bible and come up with your own reading plan. Or, if you’d like a little help, I suggest you check out a free online resource at  http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/readingplans/.

You can choose a Bible reading plan that fits you and your lifestyle. Heck, you can even have stuff emailed to you every day to keep you on track. It’s easy and it’s free.

So what do you say? Why not follow in the footsteps of the Bereans and become noble like them? Examine “the Scriptures” on a regular basis.

As a kid I pretended all kinds of things, but that didn’t make them come true. The only way to move our dreams and goals from imagination to reality is diligence and discipline.

I encourage you to develop a thirst for biblical truth, and then go for it!

“(The Bereans) examined the Scriptures every day.”

1  Acts 17:10-11