[Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Don’t let opinions define you

Read: Acts 28:1-6

Meditation verse:

“So, when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “no doubt this man is a murderer, whom though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live” -Acts 28:4 (NKJV).

A story is told of a grandfather who went on a journey with his young grandson. As they traveled, the grandfather placed the boy on their donkey and walked beside them. Soon, a passerby scoffed, “How disrespectful! That poor old man is walking while the young boy rides comfortably!” So, the grandfather switched places and mounted the donkey while the boy walked beside him.

Not long after, another observer criticized, “How cruel! The little boy is walking while the old man rides?” The grandfather then lifted the boy onto the donkey with him. Before long, yet another passerby lamented, “Poor donkey! How unfair to burden it with both a man and a child!” By the time they reached their destination, the grandfather and his grandson were carrying the donkey on their heads.

In Acts 28, Paul and his companions had just survived a harrowing shipwreck. Upon arriving at the island of Malta, the locals welcomed them and lit a fire to provide warmth. As Paul gathered sticks and placed them on the fire, a viper fastened itself to his hand. Instantly, the islanders judged him: “He must be a murderer! Though he escaped the sea, justice won’t let him live.” But when Paul suffered no harm, they quickly changed their minds and declared him a god.

Whose voice are you listening to today? Are you unduly led by people’s opinions? One moment the Jews cried “Hosanna” to Jesus Christ, and they next, they shouted “crucify Him”. Human judgment is fickle. One moment you’re condemned, the next, exalted. John 2:24–25 tells us that Jesus did not entrust Himself to people, because “He knew all about human nature…for He knew what was in each person’s heart” (NLT). Jeremiah 17:9 underscores this: “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?”

We are all susceptible to biases—snap judgments, stereotypes, generalizations, and the halo effect. Opinions are often shaped not by truth, but by fleeting emotions or limited perceptions. So why build your life on what others think? People’s opinions are unstable. The only sure foundation is the unchanging word of God. Jesus said in John 10:27, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” The Word of God is His voice to you. Let it guide your decisions and define your worth. As Psalm 119:105 declares, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Yes, seek counsel—“In the multitude of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14). But weigh every counsel and opinion against the truth of God’s Word. If not, you may find yourself, like the grandfather going through life carrying the donkey—overburdened by the weight of everyone else’s expectations.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye

Founder: The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM)

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