Third Sunday Meditation: Instructions For 21st Century Bereans

"As soon as it was night, the brethren sent Paul

and Silas to Berea. Upon arrival, they made their way to

the Jewish synagogue. Now these were more noble-minded

than those in Thessalonica, because they received the message

with goodwill, searching the Scriptures each day to see

whether these things were true. Therefore, many of

them believed, as well as quite a few prominent

Greek men and women."

Acts 17:10-12

AN EXCERPT FROM PAUL'S FIRST LETTER

TO TIMOTHY

CHAPTER FOUR

But the Holy Spirit distinctly and expressly declares

that in the latter times some will turn away from the faith,

giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits

and the doctrines that demons teach.

Through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars whose

consciences are seared.

Who forbid people to marry and teach them to abstain

from certain kinds of food which God created to be received

with thanksgiving by those who believe and have an

increasingly clear knowledge of the truth.

For everything God has created is good, and nothing is

to be thrown away or refused if it is received with thanksgiving.

For it is hallowed and consecrated by the Word of God and by prayer.

If you lay all these instructions before the brethren, you will be a

worthy steward and a good minister of Christ Jesus, ever nourishing

your own self on the truths of the faith and of the good 

(Christian) instruction which you have closely followed.

But refuse and avoid irreverent legends (profane and impure and

godless fictions, mere grandmothers' tales) and silly myths, and express

your disapproval of them. Train yourself toward godliness, (piety),

keeping yourself spiritually fit.

For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but

godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything 

and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life

and also for the life which is to come.

This saying is reliable and worthy of complete acceptance by everybody.

With a view to this we toil and strive, yes, and suffer reproach,

because we have fixed our hope on the living God, Who is the Savior,

Preserver, Maintainer, and Deliverer of all people, especially

those who believe, trust in, rely on, and adhere to Him.

Continue to command these things and to teach them.

Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth,

but be an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love,

in faith, and in purity.

Till I come, devote yourself to public and private reading, 

to exhortation, preaching and personal appeals, and to teaching

and instilling doctrine.

Do not neglect the gift which is in you, that special inward 

endowment which was directly imparted to you by the Holy Spirit

by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you

at your ordination.

Practice and cultivate and meditate upon these duties;

throw yourself wholly into them as your ministry, so that your

progress may be evident to everybody.

Look well to yourself, to your own personality, and to your

teaching; persevere in these things, hold to them, for by so doing

you will save both yourself and those who hear you."

Part One

 Part Two

"So faith comes by hearing what is told, and what

is heard comes by the preaching of the message that

came from the lips of Christ the Messiah Himself."

Romans 10:17

"True and False Christs"
Derek Vaughan Prince
(1915-2003)