Examining the Scriptures

Now [the Jews of Berea] were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed... (Acts 17:11-12)

We should follow the example of the Bereans who heard the Word Paul was teaching them and examined the scriptures daily. We should test what we hear and are taught against the scriptures. We should dig into them daily and store them in our hearts that we may not be led astray from the right path.

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:9-11)

When we are storing up his word in our heart we will be ready when temptation comes our way...

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:12-17)

The bible is the Word of God it is inerrant and sufficient. Everything we hear and read should be tested against it. Don't trust things that go against what the Scripture says. God has given us his word to instruct us and encourage us. To teach us more about His greatness.  

This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, (1 Timothy 1:18-19)

This verse in 1 Timothy 1 is a warning to those who reject the scriptures or what they teach. There have been many people throughout history and many still today who want to just pick and choose the truth about Jesus. It is all through scripture though. We must have all or nothing. 

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Timothy 4:13-16)

The bible is a gift to us. It is a true blessing and should excite us and come up in our conversation. We should be eager to share it with others in our daily life. 

And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:19-21)

The Old Testament has so much about Jesus - He is the Lamb who was lead to the slaughter; the promised Messiah born of the virgin; He came to save the people from their sins... I could go on but I should stop there... The Bible is written for US

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. (1 Peter 1:10-12)

 We have been given such a great blessing - we should not reject it but live our lives rejoicing in God's great gift to us. Dig into his Word daily and you will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9).

Free to Serve

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Galatians 5:13-18) 

We naturally want what is best for us. If we walk in the Spirit however we will want the things God wants. I am not saying this is easy but it is a fight we have been called to fight. Jesus said that whoever would follow him must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow him. It is a continually battle to put other before ourselves and serve him with our whole heart. 

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.(1 Timothy 4:12) 

It is our role as Christian young people in this society to set an example to everyone who we meet. Many people use the teenage years in rebellion against the authorities that God has set over us. We should be humbly submitting to these authorities not fighting against them. God has placed them over us for our own good, to protect us and guide us. 

 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honour everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the emperor. (1 Peter 2:13-17) 

These years are a great opportunity to serve in the church because we do not have the responsibilities of those who are married. We should use our time wisely for it is short. Evaluate what you spend your time on because you will probably not be able to spent as much of your time on the things of the Lord later on in your life.

 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. (1 Corinthians 7:32-34)

In this age many of the young people feel like they are just being told what to do by their parents and they do not realise that their parents are only trying to get the best for them and to keep them from the dangers of the world. As we get older we do receive more freedom that we had when we were younger. We just have to be careful about how we use this freedom. Do not use it as an opportunity to go the way of the world and to follow the desires of the flesh use it to bring glory to God and set and example for the believers.  We are called to, by the Spirit, put to death the deeds of the body that we may live. If we are truly children of God he will give us a new character and a promise that he who is in us is greater that he who is in the world.

I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart! (Psalm 119:32)

God's commandments should not be burdensome to us. Those who have been born of God, that is, those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, have overcome the world through faith. My Dad was giving the example the other day of a forest. It is not easy to make your way through the undergrowth without a path and it is easy to get lost and the path can be hard to find again. If you stay on the path however you are free to run along and can make your way easily. God has given us a road on which to travel, Jesus said 'I am the way...' he has given us commandments and worldly authorities to guide us and this causes us to be free! Do not wander from the path stay in his way for it is true when Jesus said his yoke is easy and his burden is light.

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Let us continually say 'Your will, Your way, Always...' serving him with our whole heart wherever he places us...

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