Hold the Good

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.
 
LUKE, the author of Luke and Acts, writes in Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
   Picture this. The Bereans heard a teaching or sermon, and then they met to determine if Paul’s words were true to Scripture - what we call the Old Testament. The Bereans worked to verify the truth of God’s gospel. They did not have an idle “feed me” attitude that infects so many church attenders. When they knew the truth, they held onto the gospel. Their faith was sure, not easily swayed by false teachers. The Bereans devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching (Acts 2:42a) and kept the fire burning within their hearts. They held onto God’s Word, and it changed their lives.
   Paul urged the Thessalonians to be the same. Just as the prophets of old warned against false prophets, Paul and the other apostles continually warned the church to be watchmen for the truth. Satan’s liars – false witnesses and pretend teachers called antichrists – were in all communities. We are easily swayed from the truth when we spend too little time knowing and living it.  
   The truth is the Christian faith and life requires a good deal of mental work. Faith is the beginning of a life set apart by Jesus. Faith sparks a desire to seek and discover God’s Holy Word. We must nurture that desire with regular Bible study on our own and with others. Sermons, teachings, books and articles to help us understand God must be part of our regular routine. Such regular study and understanding is required to keep your hold tight on the truth.
    Devoted pastors do not want to hear, “Keep it light, pastor. We don’t need all the details.” God’s Good Shepherds want the church to come prepared to hear the Scripture and its attending lessons. A pastor enjoys feeing those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Watching a congregation eagerly consume and be filled with God’s Word is very satisfying for a godly pastor.
   Be devoted to the truth. Seek it. Learn it. And hold it tightly in your heart, soul and mind. Jesus was so passionate for the truth he submitted to the cross. Then he sent his Counselor: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17 ) May the Spirit lead you to hold tightly to the truth as you follow your Good Shepherd.