Being aware of Satan’s tactics
That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men. Acts 17:10-12
From the text, the believers in Berea were commended because they were open-minded and were studying the word that Paul and Silas shared to them to find if they were true. They manifested cautious heart that will not easily accept a teaching unless they were examined and compared with the Scriptures. That is what the Scriptures are for; they are your guide so that you can tell what is true and what is false and help you determine what is right from what is wrong. If Christians do not examine the teachings they are receiving, they could get lost in a sea of relativism. This could affect their knowledge that will help them identify what is right or what is wrong. Your mind could get confused and you can be misled and manipulated. This is what happened in Thessalonica when the crowd was manipulated by false teachings (Acts 17:5-7). God is concerned that Christians will not do a diligent work studying God’s word that they will end up deceived by false teachings. “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves” (Matthew 7:15). In this world where Satan dominates, it is important that Christians will be aware of the devices that will be used to deceive them and undermine their faith. “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Jesus said that many will be deceived before His return. “And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people” (Matthew 24:11). The only way you could prevent yourself from getting deceived is to constantly learn from God’s word. Do not allow hollow philosophies and man’s traditions take you away from the true teachings of God’s word. As the Apostle Paul reminded Christians in Colossae, “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ” (Colossians 2:8).
Blessings.
