SQUARE ONE

READING: ACTS 26:19-23

Verse 20: “but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.”

In this verse Paul discloses what he preached. His message was simple, but it is important to note that it involved a specific mandatory order in three steps. The order was first to repent, next to turn to God and finally to do works. Sometimes people try to tamper with the order by using the works in order to turn to God. Here is an illustration. It begins with picturing a derelict person. He is lying in a gutter in his own filth. His thoughts are only of how to get more drugs or drinks. In that very state he is offered the love of God. He wants desperately to accept such an honor, but considers himself to be totally unworthy. He therefore begins to diligently work to make himself worthy, but that is too much for him to accomplish. The result is that he ends up back where he started. If only he had acceptede the prescribed order. Then the love of God would have provided him with the worthiness he tried to acquire. Anyone like the derelict who seeks works befitting repentance, must follow the established order. Before anything else, that person must turn to God. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. How common is the problem of pursuing the wrong order?

2. Is there anyone you can help to get into the right order?