WEEK 8: DAY 2
OPINIONS - DEFINING MOMENTS

James 2:1.
My dear friends, don't let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith.

We have been discussing the defining moments in one's life so we will be discussing opinions today.
Some of us have tied our destiny to the umbilical cord of public opinions and due to this, growth in Christ as well as maturity has proved difficult.

Remember the evidence of maturity are fruits. How can you bear godly fruits if you allow opinions of others shape you?

Are you influenced by the trends and wiles of the world? The momentary arguement of positions and identity? The words of your environment and nurturers?

The only way you can live your Christ originated Faith is if your growth is being powered by Christ.

This is not to say there are no channels or you should ignore channels of God, No! What I am saying to you is that always listen to God even through people.

When listening to people, listen through them. When they are speaking to you about your life, listen through them.

This way, you see beyond who is talking and no matter who is used, you can hear clearly and discern rightly.

James 3:3-12
A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!
It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.
This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!
My friends, this can't go on. A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you?

Now let's take the focus to the words that come from yours.

When you air your opinion, test it against your identity in Christ. Does it build or destroy? Does it heal or kill?

Ephesians 4:29
Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.

I pray as you live your life in Christ, you live beyond the opinion of others and allow your tongue bear Godly fruits, so those that taste of it shall testify of the gospel of Christ in Jesus name, amen.

Rain in a bucket; Devotional with Toyosi
www.raininabucket.wordpress.com