They received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. — Acts 17:11
“Trust, but verify.” My husband loves that quote from Ronald Reagan. During his time in office, the former US President wanted to believe everything he was told in his political dealings with others. But since the security of his country depended on the truth being told — he strived to verify everything.
Acts 17:11 tells us that the Bereans had a similar attitude about knowing the truth. “They received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” In other words, the Bereans didn’t simply believe what someone else was telling them. They also verified it on their own — on a daily basis.
That’s important for us to consider as well. Whether we receive our Bible teaching through church, Sunday school, radio, or TV — we need to test what we hear against God’s inspired Word (2 Tim. 3:16-17). We are to “be diligent to present [ourselves] approved to God, . . . rightly dividing the Word of truth” (2:15). If we do this, we won’t become prey to those who teach “a different gospel,” and those who “want to pervert the gospel of Christ” (Gal. 1:6-7) — false teachers who come as wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 7:15).
Remember, trust — but verify! — Cindy Hess Kasper
Protection from false teaching comes
The more we read God’s Word;
For once we know the Scripture’s truth,
What’s false will sound absurd. — Sper
READ: Galatians 1:1-9
Knowing what’s true is the first step in knowing what’s false.
The Bible in one year:
• Ecclesiastes 10-12
• Galatians 1