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."

[These were more noble] eugenesteroi. This literally means more noble by birth; descended from more illustrious ancestors. But here the word is used to denote a quality of mind and heart. They were more generous, liberal, and noble in their feelings; more disposed to inquire candidly into the truth of the doctrines advanced by Paul and Silas. It is always proof of a noble, liberal, and ingenuous disposition to be willing to examine into the truth of any doctrine presented.

[In that] Because.

[They received the word ...] They listened attentively and respectfully to the gospel. They did not reject and spurn it as unworthy of examination. This is the first particular in which they were more noble than those in Thessalonica.

[And searched the scriptures] That is, the Old Testament. The apostles always affirmed that the doctrines which they maintained respecting the Messiah were in accordance with the Jewish scriptures. The Bereans made diligent and earnest inquiry in respect to this, and were willing to ascertain the truth.

[Daily] Not only on the Sabbath, and in the synagogue, but they made it a daily employment. It is evident from this that they had the Scriptures; and this is one proof that Jewish families would, if possible, obtain the oracles of God.

[Whether those things were so] Whether the doctrines stated by Paul and Silas were in accordance with the Scriptures. The Old Testament they received as the standard of truth, and whatever could be shown to be in accordance with that, they received. On this verse we may remark:

(1) That it is proof of true nobleness and liberality of mind to be willing to examine the proofs of the truth of religion. What the friends of Christianity have had most cause to lament and regret is, that so many are unwilling to examine its claims; that they spurn it as unworthy of serious thought, and condemn it without hearing.

(2) The Scriptures should be examined daily. If we wish to arrive at the truth, they should be the object of constant study. That man has very little reason to expect that he will grow in knowledge and grace who does not peruse, with candor and with prayer, a portion of the Bible every day.

(3) The constant searching of the Scriptures is the best way to keep the mind from error. He who does not do it daily may expect to "be carried about with every wind of doctrine," and to have no settled opinions.

(4) The preaching of ministers should be examined by the Scriptures. Their doctrines are of no value unless they accord with the Bible. Every preacher should expect his doctrines to be examined in this way, and to be rejected if they are not in accordance with the Word of God. The church, in proportion to its increase in purity and knowledge, will feel this more and more; and it is an indication of advance in piety when people are increasingly disposed to examine everything by the Bible. How immensely important, then, is it that the young should be trained up to diligent habits of searching the Word of God. And how momentous is the obligation of parents, and of Sunday school teachers, to inculcate just views of the interpretation of the Bible, and to form the habits of the rising generation, so that they shall be disposed and enabled to examine every doctrine by the sacred oracles. The purity of the church depends on the extension of the spirit of the nobleminded Bereans, and that spirit is to be extended in a very considerable degree by the instrumentality of Sunday schools. (from Barnes' Notes)

Do we do this today, as Christians? Do we examine our teacher's and preacher's words to see if they are TRUE to what the Bible says? Generally, no. If we do, we tend to be labeled as legalists. How sad!

In the above verse it says that the people who DID hold Paul's teachings to Scripture were "of more noble character"! Wow! And why don't we want to be of more noble character, again? Ahhh, because the label we would earn is so negative.

If our attitude is one of obedience, rather than one of just following rules and regulations, then we are not legalists, but we are seeking to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16). Will we ever be holy on this earth? No. But shouldn't that be our goal? Yes. For THAT is what pleases God! I don't know about you, but that's what I want to do!

That said, think on this....

• What does the Bible say about controlling family size?
• What does the Bible say about limiting the number of children God sends you?
• What does the Bible say about birth control?
• What does the Bible say about children being the ultimate of blessings?
• Does your attitude toward accepting as many children as the Lord would send you align with Scripture?
• Does your church's attitude toward accepting as many children as the Lord would send align with Scripture?
• Does the attitude of most Christians accepting as many children as the Lord would send them align with Scripture?

That is pretty scary if we're believing what society and other Christians have to say regarding an eternal decision such as that. Nowhere in Scripture does it point that WE should be rejecting, preventing or withholding the blessings of children! In fact...all it says is that GOD controls the opening and closing of the womb! God was the one who was always said to have prevented children from being conceived! God was the one who was always said to have blessed people with the conception of a child! 

Have you closed your womb to God? Can He overcome that closure? Yes. But generally, God works with the natural rules of science set in this world by Him. Are you preventing God from blessing you? Check Scripture on that (nothing else, JUST Scripture) and see where God stands on that subject.

~ Lisa Metzger