DEEPER Daily Devotional
Thursday, 12th June 2025
Topic: The Power To Change Opinions
Scripture: Acts 28:1-10
One of the things you cannot control is the opinions of people about you. To live a life that is centred on what people think about you is like walking into a cage, locking yourself up, and giving the key to other people. Saul, the first king of Israel, lost the throne mainly because he was focused on the opinions of men rather than the will of God. Opinions will always differ, and they should not be your focus. However, there are times when God will use certain events of your life to shift the opinions of men for His glory.
Paul, the Apostle of God on divine assignment, had an experience on the island of Malta that made people think he was a sinner being punished by God. After surviving a storm and shipwreck with other prisoners, Paul got bitten by a venomous snake as he gathered sticks for fire. The opinion of the people, as they waited for him to die, was that Paul was facing judgement from God. Like many people, Paul could have tried to explain his side of the story to convince them that he wasn’t a bad person. But no, he just shook off the snake into the fire and moved on. When the people realized that he had defied the venom of the snake and was still alive, they changed their minds about him and said he was a god. Paul went on to heal the sick people on the island.
We have not been called to defend our reputation to make men see us positively, especially when we are going through the challenges of life. The world needs Christians who understand their authority in Christ and can shift the hearts of men by acts of faith. When we demonstrate the power of God in our lives, we alter the minds and hearts of men to acknowledge and honour God. It is time to shake off the troubles and walk in the power of God that can change the opinions of men.
Prayer: Father, through my life, let the hearts of men be turned to You in worship.
Written by : Elorm Mensa
