Recently, I was teaching Acts 2:38 to a classroom of adults. In this verse, the Apostle Peter says, "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (New Living Translation).

I pointed out how clearly Peter connects repentance AND baptism to forgiveness of sins and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. But one student simply would not believe Peter's words. He could believe repentance was connected to forgiveness of sins, but not baptism. So, despite the fact that the text is painfully clear, he dropped out of the class rather than just accepting it.

I am continually amazed at how hard-hearted people can be towards God and his Word. They read or hear things in the Bible that disagree with their opinion, so instead of just admitting that they are wrong and changing their view, they become angry and reject God's clear word to continue believing as they wish.

I wouldn't dream of doing this! I tremble at God's Word! When I read it I EAGERLY seek to accept and obey it, not argue with it or make it fit into my preconceived theological belief system. How could I ever DARE to ignore God's plain word or act like it couldn't be true?

Who am I to question God? If he said that I had to stand on my head and gargle peanut butter to be saved, why would I question that? No sir, not me! I'd be standing on my head and gargling peanut butter on a regular basis, if God told me that's what I had to do.

So, why do people argue with God about baptism? About homosexuality or sex outside marriage? Or about Jesus being the only way to salvation? Or divorce? Or ANYTHING? Why do people argue with God?

The answer is that their hearts are HARD and simply unwilling to obey when God speaks. May it NEVER be so with us! May our attitude always be that we are eager and hungry to accept and obey God's every word, whether it makes perfect sense to us or not.

In the name of Jesus, may it be so.