Acts 17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

In Luke 4 we saw Jesus, as was His custom, and here in Acts Paul, as was his manner. There is a lesson here to be learned about consistency of behavior. Situations changed for both Jesus and for Paul. Each had come to a point where they began revealing the truth of the scriptures, that Jesus is the Messiah. Both reasoned out of the Old Testament, which is a foretelling, an indicator of who would be the Messiah and what He would do.

Until this time had come, people were comfortable with their own piety and worship. The world was comfortable with their piety and worship. It was theirs and no one was speaking to the root problem, the sin nature of man. When truth is spoken, a straight line is drawn and man finds himself on the wrong side of the line without Jesus and the salvation that is offered.

As much as I would like to do it, no amount of pulling on my part moves a soul from one side of the line to the other. People have to see their condition for themselves and make a choice to cross over. That bridge is the cross of Christ and the consistency in our message has to be in that work and not our own.

We plead with those we love to come to Christ. How do you speak to those you do not like? Is there any consistency of speech? The issue has to be that your motivations, your manner, your custom, cannot be based on your love for the world. It has to be based on your love for Jesus.

John 14:15 “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Matthew 28:14 NASB “go and make disciples…”