Everyone has an opinion. They are as common as belly buttons. Life happens. Decisions are made. Choices are given. We all live and learn and along with that opinions are formed. Unfortunately, many times poor opinions are created and related as if it were the Gospel truth.
Maybe you go along with folks and then regret it later because you don’t want them to have a bad opinion of you. It could be that you change the way you think because of who is in the room. You possibly read into what other people say or do as if it is in direct judgment of something about you. Maybe you have a hard time asking for help because you don’t want others to think you’re weak or not knowledgable. Maybe you are critical or judgmental of others because that’s what’s been done to you and you’re tired of getting hurt.
But Paul addressed this type of living and thinking in Galatians. He starts out that letter by saying he wasn’t appointed by a person or a group to spread the message of Jesus. He was chosen by the Spirit and because of that, people’s opinion of him do not matter.
What we discover in the Gospel of Jesus is that we have been set free not only from the Law but also what people think of us. We are called to live out Jesus in our everyday life no matter what folks think. Paul says in Galatians 5:1, “Christ has truly set us free.” What an exciting story to live into!! We are free from anything the world throws at us. We don’t have to believe what other people might say about us since Paul reminds us of what God thinks about us.
Paul says in Galatians 3:26, “for you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. All who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ…there is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Wow! We are sons and daughters of the Most High God! Praise be! May I always listen to his voice and none other. Blessings on your journey.