After reading a children’s book yesterday, I stopped and assessed why I felt vaguely uncomfortable with the message.  It was a fun and delightful book, but something was off.  I asked Dear Husband for input.  Together we decided what was missing from the book’s message in light of Scripture.  We agreed that there was a lot of truth in the book, but it seemed to say that we can get everything we need from self-help without God’s help.  I think when our granddaughter reads it at our house, we’ll have that same discussion.  There are a lot of ideas out there!   We read news stories every day about groups that are advocating certain actions.  How do we decide whether those actions are morally right?  Your friend makes a statement that activates a warning bell in your head.  Does her way of thinking contradict what God’s Word says?  There are life coaches everywhere online.  How do you evaluate whether their advice and approach is good and true?  

When we’re faced with an idea, how should we evaluate it?  Should we accept the idea because it’s popular, or because someone important or believable espoused it, or because we’ve heard it so many times it must be true?  Or should we easily dismiss a new idea because we won’t take the time to evaluate it?  When we’re exposed to an idea the wisest thing to do is to check the truth of it by checking what the Scriptures say.  Is this idea one that is in the Bible?  Or is this idea contrary to the truth in God’s Word?

“They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.”  Acts 17:11

The Scriptures are our best guide.  Where else can we find such a reliable standard by which to assess what we run into in our daily lives?  Should I believe this?  Should I do this?  Is this right or wrong?  The Bible helps us decide the answers.  Remember that as we search the Scriptures for answers about what we should believe and what we should do, God’s Spirit helps us find the answers. He helps us find the passages that explain to us what we need to know.  And He brings to mind what we’ve read in the past when we need it.  Regularly, repeatedly putting God’s words into our minds allows the Holy Spirit to help us recall them when we need them.

“I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. . . Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;
I will put them into practice with all my heart.
Make me walk along the path of your commands,
for that is where my happiness is found.
Give me an eagerness for your laws
rather than a love for money!
Turn my eyes from worthless things,
and give me life through your word.”  Psalm 119:11, 34-37

It takes time and commitment to study the Bible daily.  But how else are we going to find out what the Scriptures say?  Yes, it’s necessary to gather for teaching once each week.  But it’s also necessary that we study each day.  This can take many forms- with others, on our own, organized or spontaneous discussions, studying lessons or self-guided studying, listening online to Bible teachers or reading online Bible lessons.  The important thing is that we’re learning daily from God’s Word.

In order to read daily, we have to put it into our routine.  Scheduling time to read proves it’s a priority.  Some folks read first thing in the morning to start their day with uplifting thoughts.  Others take time in the evening after their responsibilities are done.  

There are so many ways to approach reading the Bible.  Some people read a chapter each day in chronological order.  Other people read only a few verses each day, but take time to think about the passage by writing down especially meaningful verses to look back on later.  Some people read a few verses and then answer some questions such as: What do these verses tell us about God?  What do these verses tell us about us?  Is there something I should avoid?  Is there an example that I should try to emulate?  Is there a promise I can pray back to God for my needs?  You can answer these questions in your mind, write the answers down, or discuss them with someone.  Some people study a topic and consider the various verses on that subject.  Some read a selection from the Old Testament and then one from the New Testament.  

Dear Husband used to read a chapter out loud to me each morning after breakfast.  But a while ago I asked him to read only a part of a chapter so I could absorb the ideas better.  Then we talk about it.  Having someone who likes to talk over Scripture is a blessing like no other!  Please let me stop here and give a word of advice from the vantage point of age.  You need people in your life that you can talk with about the Bible.  If you don’t yet have a friend like that, find one(s) for the sake of your own well-being.  Godly friends help us stay on track.  I have a number of friends who have motivated me to be more serious about my own Bible reading because I see them being so committed to their own reading and study.  I love walking into a certain friend’s house and both her Bible and study books and her husband’s are on the kitchen table well used.  Or my new friend who mentioned coffee and Bible reading in the morning.  I got brave and asked her if she read every morning.  “Oh, of course!”  she replied.  I got a warm feeling inside and a smile on my face.  Another friend couldn’t return my text a few evenings ago until the next morning because they had stayed so late at their Bible study at their friends’ house.  That’s the best excuse ever for not answering!

Did you know that we must check even respected teachers?  We are all capable of being mistaken or getting off the right path.  Unfortunately, there are more than one teacher who has left their Biblical foundation and wandered from the faith.  We must never blindly accept what we hear.   But we must always measure it against God’s Word with others who are doing the same.

“As was Paul’s custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he used the Scriptures to reason with the people.  He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I’m telling you about is the Messiah.”  Some of the Jews who listened were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with many God-fearing Greek men and quite a few prominent women . . . And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.   As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.”  Acts 17:2-4,11

Let’s be like the people of Berea!