Romans 8:31 ( NKJV )
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Last week I took some time to talk about God’s opinion of you. Many of our problems are based in the opinions that others have of us. As I said last week, we are actually designed to respond to someone’s opinion. One of the issues Adam faced in the Garden was the perception that God’s opinion of him had changed. This is not true, as God never changes, but I can see how Adam would feel God must have thought differently of him after the fall. I believe another underlying need in man is the restoration of confidence in God’s opinion of us. If we are settled that God thinks well of us, then the opinion of others will matter less.
In teaching on this I believe God revealed something to me that I find powerful. The greatest reward promised to any believer when they get to heaven is not wealth. We are not promised “70 virgins” or prominent position. The highest reward promised every believer for a successful life lived on earth is simply this, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” I think this reveals the depth of man’s need for God’s approval. When all is said and done, the greatest thing we can receive is God’s good opinion of us. “You did good, kid!” Wow, I think that is very revealing.
What we need to do is fill our hearts and minds with that opinion now and not wait until heaven. It’s not like it will be different then. He has the same opinion of you today. Let’s start with the above verse. We tend to focus on the second part of the verse, “who can be against us.” That’s a powerful truth and we should cultivate it, but what about the first part. God just said He is for you!
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt those in authority just didn’t like you. Have you ever said, “They’re out to get me.” That doesn’t feel very good does it? However if you happen to be on the other side of the situation and you were the one the boss or the teacher or the coach or even the parents did like, that’s a whole different thing. If the one in authority likes you, you know you are going to have every chance to succeed. They will help you. They will overlook small mistakes. They will be inclined to expect the best of you and not the worst. Well God is for you. He likes you.
As you approach this week, think about that. God is for me. He’s on my side. He’s going to help me. He’s not going to cast me aside if I make small mistakes. He is expecting the best of me and not the worst. God is not “out to get” me, He is out to bless me. That’s His opinion of me so who’s opinion can really hurt me. Who’s opinion but His really matters. I hope that changes your week.
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