Christians are committed to preach God's word to people. We can do that for them. But they are responsible to receive it. That is something we cannot do for them. How does God expect people to hear the gospel and
We will look at four passages of scripture: three good examples and one command
Notice in each passage, two things involved: attitude and action. There is a right attitude to have, and a right action to take, in
These had a better attitude than those in Thessalonica. They "received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily" to see whether the
Two things stand out in this passage. In Thessalonica, certain Jews opposed the word of God, even to the extent of following Paul to Berea to stir up trouble for him there. But in Berea, the Jews received the word with all readiness of mind. Think about that
In short: They were rapt. They were apt. They were adept.
If only there were more people with that sort of attitude, who would take that sort of action! Eager, teachable, alert, competent, willing to comply. We could do with
In spite of opposition from Thessalonica, there were people there who received the word. For them Paul thanked God without ceasing, for when they received the word, they "accepted it not as the word of men, but as it was, in truth, the word of God", which worked in
In the Bereans, we saw the extent to which one should have a liberal attitude and an open mind, in receiving God's word. In the Thessalonians we see, from another point of view, the extent to which one's attitude should be narrow,
It had to be the word of God that the Thessalonians received. They rejected the word of men. In this respect, the Thessalonians were hard to please. But they were not impossible to please. They did not dismiss the preacher's every word with "that's just your interpretation; that's just what you say." When It was in fact the word of God, they received it as such and did not reject it as something it was not. They rejected the word of men, but only when it was in fact
That was their attitude. As for the action they took, they believed the word of God, and it worked in them.
In Jerusalem, on the day of Pentecost, three thousand reople who "gladly received the word
Notice their attitude. They "gladly received" God's word. They welcomed it. Notice the action they took. They "were baptized". People who receive God's word, receive baptism. People who reject baptism
"Receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to
How do we receive with meekness
The man who receives God's word with meekness is an honest man, a humble man, a harnessed man. That is our lesson in a capsule.
If we have the right attitude in receiving the word of God, it is able to "save our souls." If we take the right action in receiving the word of God, we are able by that word to "