Devotional: Is It So: Acts 16:10-12

“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” (Acts 16:11, NASB).

There are any numbers of social media platforms available in the world of information gathering and sharing. There are too many for me to know about and count. Yesterday, I heard an announcer on the radio call the names of some of the social media platforms, and I could not believe it. The standard news media of radio, television, newspapers, and magazines are many. Each of them reports the news from their particular bias and perspective. Some report the news in a manner that reflects a conservative point of view. Others reflect a moderate point of view. Still others report the news from a liberal and radical point of view. There are media that concentrates on sports. There are media that centers on history, and some are centered on religion. Regardless of the kind of news that one desires to know, there is one question that each of us should want an answer to. When I listen to what is being said, I should ask, Is it so?

The question “Is it so” invites us to determines if the news that we hear and see is truth or falsehood. Is it the truth or is it a lie? Has the whole story been told or are there facts that have been omitted so that people are influenced to think about things in a certain way? Christian that watch religious news and Christian programs are not spared the various biases and perspectives of religious matters. The religious news programs are no different than the secular programs. Each one wants to convince people that their point of view is the right way. Generally, Christians believe that the bible is the most reliable source of information about matters such as God, salvation, sin, miracles, dreams, Jesus, Holy Spirit, and moral behavior.

When Paul was on his second missionary journey he came to a city called Thessalonica (Acts 17:1). He preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some of the people did not agree with Paul’s message. Charges were levied against Paul and a mob became so formidable that “the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Paul was forced to leave town, but he would not be forced to stop preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul was convinced that He was called by God who gave him his assignment. He knew that the task would be dangerous, but he would not deviate from the truth that he preached. So, when he arrived in Berea, Paul went to the synagogue of the Jews to preach the gospel. He had no other message to proclaim.

The Jews in Berea responded very differently than the opposition in Thessalonica. Instead of jumping to conclusions they investigated the matter. The Jews in Berea, like those in Thessalonica were being told things that they had not known before just as those in Thessalonica had been told. The gospel of Jesus Christ was a threat to the things that they had known and believed. The gospel gave a new perspective of their religion and culture. Would they respond with anger and violence? Would they run Paul and his assistants out of the city?

Before they would do anything, they searched the Scriptures. They searched the Scripture to reexamine their beliefs to see if what they had been practicing was right. These were noble people that wanted to know the truth. They did not consult philosophers, political people, or any other source that were thought to have intelligent ideas and knowledge. These were Jews, and they believed that the answers to their questions could be found in the scriptures. Paul was telling them about things that they did not know. They asked themselves, Is it so?

The scriptures are the source of knowledge for the Christian. If you have any questions about Jesus, God, and your salvation read the scriptures to see if what you see and hear are true or false.

Prayer: God we thank You for the Scriptures that answers our question, Is it so. Amen.