Monday, March 15, 2021

Daily Look Into Scripture

"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." (Acts 17: 11 KJV)

How few are they who search or daily look into the holy scriptures! Many do not fail to read their horoscope daily, but do they daily search the scriptures? Which will be of greater profit to them? People read the news reports, e-mails, text messages, daily and regularly. Oh that they were this anxious and habited* to read and meditate upon God's word every day! What a bad choice it is to choose other things to study rather than God's word! It is tragic irony! People would be so much better off to search the scriptures daily than any other daily habit! 

People daily eat and drink. But, taking God's word within our thoughts is our feeding our minds. "The mind is a terrible thing to waste," indeed; And, those who do not search the word of God daily are wasting their minds. The bible is often compared to food, such as meat and milk, bread and honey, etc. It is comparable to a feast of delicious things. Jesus said that his flesh and blood were to be eaten and taken into the mind and spirit. In this regard we may say that with all of us it is either feast or famine. Most are famished when it comes to knowing the word of God. Only a small few daily feast upon holy scripture. This fact reminds us of the word of God in Amos.

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD." (Amos 8: 11 KJV)

Thankfully, a few in the world today can identify with this testimony of the weeping prophet:

"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts." (Jer. 15: 16 KJV)

Daily eating the word! What joy! How delicious to the heart and soul!

People daily look into the mirror, when they first wake and begin to groom themselves. But, how many look daily into the mirror of God's word? The bible is a mirror as James indicated in these words:

"For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing." (Jam. 1: 23-25 RSV)

The scriptures (or "law of liberty") are a mirror. This is the mirror that all need to daily look into! 

Notes:

*"habited" is defined as "A recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition: An established disposition of the mind or character."

"more noble" where "noble" means "high born"

Two different Greek words for "noble"

most noble Felix (Acts 24: 3 kratistos)

most noble Festus (Acts 26: 25 kratistos)

kratistos - mightiest, strongest, noblest, most illustrious, best, most excellent - used in addressing men of prominent rank or office

On the other hand, in our text and in I Cor. 1: 26, it refers to "the nobility," or people born into titled families, like royalty, or into the higher class of society. It is from the Greek word "eugenēs" and means "well born, of a noble family."

The truly "high born" or "noble" ones are they who are "born of God"!

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