Mark chapter 8 verses 27-29 (NIV)
Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”
If I was to ask different people for their opinions on a variety of subjects, I would definitely get almost as much variety in the responses. That was also obvious during Jesus’ discussion with His disciples regarding who people believed He really was. Sometimes when we have an important decision to make it can be helpful to seek the opinion or advice of someone we trust. But we need to be careful of seeking too many people’s thoughts. Are we just hoping that at least one will tell us what we want to hear – whether it’s the right advice or not?
Jesus came to that place with the disciples where He asked them not what other people thought, but rather what they believed. The lesson that we can learn from this is that although we may value other people’s opinions, or even disagree with them, at the end of the day we must make up our own mind. And the same applies to how we see Jesus. He’s not interested in us reporting what other people believe, He asks us the same question that He asked His disciples. On this point, I concur with Peter.
And if we really are unsure about a decision or course of action, then surely God is the One whose opinion really matters.
Dear Lord,Help me to be sure that I do what I know to be right in Your eyes, regardless of what anyone else thinks.