ARE YOU OPINIONATED?
by Nancy, 1998
A few years ago a woman with whom I had
shared a lot about my faith told me that I was
opinionated. Well, needless to say, it rather
irritated me. So I asked the Lord to show me
where this remark had come from. I believe that
the Word of God is black and white - you either
believe what God has said or you don’t. I had
been healed of lupus by simply believing what
God’s Word said and had many testimonies of
God’s delivering power and supernatural
provision in several areas of my life. I have
believed ever since I was born again that I
should share these testimonies whenever God
gave me the opportunity. I truly believe that my
own opinion really isn’t worth sharing unless it
lines up with what God has said in His Word.
So I felt defensive when my friend accused me
of being “opinionated”. But the Lord showed me
that it was more a problem with my heart
attitude of haughtiness and arrogance that had
provoked the comment than it was a problem of
my friend not believing God’s Word. Then the
Lord had me meditate on James 3:l7-18 and
examine my heart motives each time I share
His Word and His power at work in my life.
Notice these verses follow on the heels of a
stern warning about the results of strife, selfish
ambition and jealousy.
“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first
of all pure (this eliminates all compromise with
the world’s wisdom!) and full of quiet
gentleness. Then it is peace-loving and
courteous (easy to be entreated in the King
James). It allows discussion and is willing to
yield to others (Notice: we can’t shove God’s
Word down someone’s throat!); it is full of
mercy and good deeds (good fruits). It is
wholehearted & straightforward & sincere. And
those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of
peace and reap a harvest of goodness. (The
Living Bible)
So the whole point is this: When you take an
uncompromised stand on God’s Word, you will
be accused by some people of being
opinionated and narrow minded, but if your
heart motives are firmly rooted in the love of
God which has as its desire the edification
(building up, spiritual well-being) of others, you
can rest assured that you are doing what God
has called you to do and you can rejoice that
you have been counted worthy to suffer
persecution for His Name’s sake!!
“Persecution is inevitable for those who are
determined to live really Christian lives, while
wicked & deceitful men will go from bad to
worse, deluding others and deluding
themselves.” II Tim. 3:12-13 (Phillips Modern
English)
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