by Dr. Larry Ollison, Ph.D. 

Let’s count to ten. Okay, are you ready? Here we go. One - three - nine - eight - two - four - six - five - seven - ten! There, we did it! But it was confusing wasn’t it? Do you know why? Of course you do. Anything that is not in its proper order causes confusion.

For example, if you had a flat tire and you put the lug nuts on before you put on the spare tire, you wouldn’t get anywhere and your problem still wouldn’t be solved. You can kick the car. You can kick the tire. You can curse the manufacturer, and you blame everyone else who has ever driven your car; but the truth is, it’s your own fault and you can’t blame anyone else. You didn’t do things in their proper order.

When we are dealing with the Word of God and what God has for us in our lives, it is much the same. We must keep things in order.

For example John 8:31-32 is a scripture verse we quote all the time. Jesus said, “If you continue in My Word, then you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”

When people hear this verse, they get excited because Jesus gave them good news. He said that He would set them free. Every one wants to be set free. No one wants to be in bondage. But unfortunately many people expect to get set free without doing all the things to get there.

In the same way we count from one to ten, we must take things in order. Otherwise there is confusion.

Jesus said, “If you continue in My Word, then you are my disciples indeed. And then we would know the truth and then we would be set free.”

Did you catch that? First, we are to continue in His Word. Second, we become His disciples. Third, we know the truth, and fourth, we are made or set free. Now, you can’t do number four – in other words, be set free – without doing number three, knowing the truth. You can’t know the truth unless you continue in the Word.

But if we take everything in its proper order, then we will be obedient. And when we are obedient, God moves on our behalf. And, we receive the end result.

Another verse is Matthew 6:33. Here Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” In the verses before, Jesus talked about all the things that we need here on earth, clothing, lodging, and food. Then He said: 1) seek the Kingdom of God; 2) seek His righteousness; and 3) all these things we need will be added to us. But many Christians are expecting God to meet their needs when they haven’t done the first and second things that must precede the third thing.

Everything we do must to be done in order. I Corinthians 14:33 says, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.”