With All Readiness

"These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."

Acts 17:11

Luke wrote concerning the Jews in the synagogues of Berea who responded to the teaching of Paul and Silas by investigating the validity of their doctrine by searching the Scriptures.  Their response was much more noble, open-minded and receptive to the truth than those in Thessalonica.  When Christians exhort one another to "be a Berean," it is typically the daily reading and study of God's word that is emphasised.  I would like to draw attention to what prompted their search of the scriptures, that "they received the word with all readiness."

The first thing this suggests to me is they were open and hungry to hear the truth about God.  They were willing to consider things they had never heard or considered before without being suspicious or judgmental.  When men unknown to the synagogue visited and shared the Gospel, they did not immediately react and throw them out without first carefully listening, considering and investigating the claims in God's word.  They received the word like those hungry thousands who at Christ's command sat on the hillside and received bread and fish distributed by the disciples and ate to the full.

Another point is it shows the people were discerning.  Having a solid foundation laid by the Torah, the Law, Psalms and Prophets, the Jews "received the word" with all readiness.  No doubt they had been exposed to many strange doctrines, controversies and opinions of men.  Among Judiasm there are many various beliefs, persuasions and practices.  The Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Herodians and Zealots are examples of the many diverse Jewish groups which existed at that time, not to mention the vast differences between rabbis and priests!  As Paul and Silas spoke the truth of God's word, the mystery of the Gospel now revealed through Jesus Christ, the people received the word, confirmed it to be true and believed.

The Jews in Berea are described as receiving the word "with all readiness."  The KJV renders this, "with all readiness of mind."  To be ready is to be prepared with eagerness to engage, to progress, explore, experience.  The picture that comes to mind of readiness is of children joyfully anticipating a trip for the park:  they are already wearing their hats, have their drink bottles, have gone to the toilet and are in the car with seatbelts on shouting together with smiles, "Let's go!"  The Bereans did not harden their minds against the visitors with suspicion, procrastinate because their priorities were elsewhere, would rather argue or counter the claims of the Gospel, or cross their arms and dig in their heels because they proudly refused to admit ignorance.  Like well-tilled soil, their minds and hearts received the good seed which proved most fruitful with miraculous speed.

Brothers and sisters, are you fair minded to receive the word of God with all readiness?  Are you prepared, not only to see if the Gospel is true but to walk in faith according to it?  The lasting fruit of their study is shown in Acts 17:12: "Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men."  Praise the LORD He prepares us to receive His truth, even as He prepares the earth to yield produce with refreshing showers of rain from heaven.  He gives us discernment to sort the chaff of opinions from the wheat of God's truth.  How sweet is the Living Water to our taste, for we have seen through the Scriptures and experience the LORD is good.  May there be revealed in us such humility, spiritual hunger, discernment to receive the word and eagerness to discover with all readiness as we search the scriptures daily as God affirms His truth to our hearts by faith.  Now is the time for us to show all readiness to heed, receive, search and believe God's word.