Consider this warning found in the Alcoholics Anonymous handbook:

“There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments, and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance — that principle is contempt prior to investigation.”

This quote was to help open the minds of alcoholics who would never consider that a higher power such as God could free them from their addiction.

In Paul’s day, many of the Jews in Thessalonica believed the Gospel of Jesus to be both foolish and dangerous. In their contempt, they would never think of investigating whether Jesus was the higher power they really needed to be free.

Now, those in Berea didn’t just swallow these new ideas about Jesus without thinking, but they did open their minds to compare Paul’s words with Scripture. They were open to investigating whether these things were so.

Is your mind ready to receive new truths from God? If you are already a Christian, have you possibly erected strongholds against certain sins where you’ll never open the door to God’s mercy and healing?

Jesus is your higher power, calling you to walk in freedom from everything that binds you. Open your mind and heart to see whether these things are so.