The More Noble Minded

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The More Noble Minded

Preaching truth  has been a rather dangerous job  at times,  and often not  a popular job.     When Paul preached  to the people  of Thessalonica in Acts 17,  there were many  that accepted his preaching,  but there were others  who formed a mob bent  on doing great harm.     Friends helped Paul escape  at night  and he went  to the city of Berea,  where he began preaching  in the Jewish synagogue.

The people of Berea are described  and compared  to some people in Thessalonica  by their actions  and morals  in Acts 17:11-12.

Now these were more noble-minded  than those in Thessalonica,  for they received the word  with great eagerness,  examining the scriptures daily,  to see  whether these things  were so.

Many of them  therefore believed,  along with a number  of prominent Greek women  and men.

To be noble-minded means  to have  and show  by one’s actions  that one has high moral qualities  —  high ideals  —  great character.

There is a big difference  between a people  with high moral qualities  and the people who only want  mob rule  because they are a jealous  and angry people.     The people  of Thessalonica are described  in Acts 17:5  —  “But the Jews,  becoming jealous  and taking along some wicked men  from the market place,  formed a mob  and set the city  in an uproar.”

The angry Jews  were jealous  simply because both Jews  and Greeks  were listening  to Paul.     They wanted  all the attention  for themselves  and to keep their high standing  as religious leaders  —  able to rule  over others.

They didn’t have enough of a real following  of their own,  so they went  to the market place  to gather up a bunch  of “wicked men” , who couldn’t have cared less  about listening  to God’s word.     And that’s how it often is  with those  who don’t have  high moral qualities.     They want to rule  over others  with force  and anger.

The noble-minded didn’t just listen  and follow  like a bunch of sheep.     They carefully listened  and then  checked it all out  in Scripture.     That is using decency  and common sense.

We are not  to believe everything we hear  and read.     We need  to be noble-minded  and check it out  for ourselves  in God’s word.     The proof is  in the pudding,  as they say.     And the Bible (the pudding)  has a lot of good things  to show us  about God’s love  and salvation  in Jesus Christ alone.

In Berea,  many believed  after they had checked everything out  for themselves.     As they searched scripture  and proved everything  for themselves,  they “received the word  with great eagerness”  because they could see things  for themselves.

It certainly was not  just noble-minded Jews  that came to faith.     There was also  a bunch of noble-minded Greek men  and women,  who also came  to believe  —  just because they listened  and checked things out  for themselves.

So,  it does not matter  who we are  in this world.     Whatever our background might be,  it is to our benefit  to listen  to God’s word  and spend the time  to check it out  for ourselves.

Don’t just believe  what someone else teaches.     We have been blessed  with well-preserved scriptures,  let us use them  for our eternal benefit,  so that Psalm 117:2  and many other verses  rightly say,  “The truth of the LORD is everlasting.”      Why be like a mobster,  blindly  and insensibly  fighting things unknown.      Diligently find out  and be at peace.

Romans 10:17  —  “So faith comes  from hearing,  and hearing  by the word  of Christ.”

With a joyful faith  like the Bereans,  we will be able  to nobly say,  “Hallelujah!     Our Lord loves us  and teaches us,  so that  we are saved.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional  to glorify  the LORD of lords  and GOD of gods.

Pray for our country.

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The LORD  made this day, let us rejoice  and be glad  in Him.

Psalm 118:24

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The word of the LORD is tried;

He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.

Psalm 18:30

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Sing for joy  in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;

Praise is becoming  to the upright.

Psalm 33:1

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How blessed are those  who dwell  in Thy house!

They are ever praising Thee.

Psalm 84:4

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Just as a father  has compassion  on his children,

So the LORD  has compassion  on those who fear Him.

Psalm 103:13

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O give thanks  to the LORD,  for He is good;

For His lovingkindness  is everlasting.

Psalm 107:1

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Glory in His holy name;

Let the heart  of those who seek the LORD  be glad.

Psalm 105:3

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Not that I have already obtained it,  or have already  become perfect,   but I press on  in order that  I may  lay hold  of that  for which also  I was laid hold of  by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12

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