WHAT SHALL WE DO

Acts 2:38-39

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."

The most natural reaction to an encounter with God is asking the question: "What shall we do (previously verse 37)?" I find this response interesting -- after someone is "Cut to the heart," the first thing they want to know is what action they need to take -- "What do I need to do?" Do you have an answer to this question? Peter did, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

It's really very simple, although it's definitely not easy. Here's the sequence:
1) The Spirit calls (or convicts) us;
2) We respond -- "what shall I do";
3) Then we get the answer "repent and be baptized."

But what does this mean? Repenting is acknowledging you have a problem and you want to change. Baptism is the act of that change.

We as believers have an understanding of these concepts relating to our conversion experience, but what do they mean to us after we've become a Christian? The answer is in definition of the "re" portion of the word "re-pent." "Re" means to do it over, "pent" means to be sorry or regretful over something we've done. So really "pent" is for new believers (the first time they acknowledge they are a sinner and need a savior); "repent" is for we Christians who have "fallen short" (in other words sinned) and need to do it (pent) over again. I don't know about you but I am always re-re-re-repenting!

In what area of your life has the Spirit spoken to you about today? What do you need to re-repent? Will you take a moment right now and re-repent? If you are having trouble with this, ask the Lord to reveal to you why you are having difficulty letting go and surrendering to Him.

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