How To Study the Bible part 2

II. Read in Acts 17:11 , what the disciples in Berea did.

“They received the word with all readiness of mind.” A frank and noble mind is open to the truth, and wants it more than gold or pleasure or fame or power.

“They searched the Scriptures.” They wanted to know for themselves, and not by mere hearsay. They searched. Precious things are deeply hidden. Pebbles and stones and autumn leaves abound everywhere, but gold and silver and precious stones are hidden deep in the bowels and rocky ribs of the earth; shells cover the sea-shore, but pearls are hidden in its depths. And so with truth. Some truth may lie on the surface of the Bible, but those that will altogether satisfy and distinguish us and make us wise unto salvation are found only after diligent search, even as for hid treasure. “Search the Scriptures;” said Jesus, “for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39). If you would know Jesus, search the Scriptures, and you will come to know Him and see His face, and be like Him.

“They searched daily.” Daily, not spasmodically, by fits and starts, but daily, habitually, they dug into the word of God, to find out if the things Paul preached were so. And just so must you do. “Thou shalt meditate therein day and night” (Joshua 2:8), was God’s instruction to Joshua. And once this habit is formed the delight in God’s word will become unspeakable.

“Thy words were found, and I did eat them;” said Jeremiah, “and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart” (Jeremiah 13:16). “O how love I Thy law!” cried the Psalmist. “It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).

In forming the habit of Bible study we may have to begin and follow it up for a time from a sense of duty, but once the habit is formed, if we are not only hearers but doers of the word, we shall follow it up for very joy, until we can say with Job, “I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12).