When the barbarians saw the beast that hung on Paul’s hand, they immediately assumed that Paul was a murderer who was being chased by vengeance. Because of what was essentially a misfortune, the barbarians judged Paul harshly. They had no idea that he was an Apostle; they had no idea of his encounter with Jesus; they had no idea of the mighty works God had used him to do; they only saw his predicament, and they judged.
Friend, pay no attention to those myopic men who judge you harshly because of a predicament that is temporary. Pay no attention to those who feel you are finished simply because they saw your misfortune; pay no attention to the discouraging voices of those who do not understand your destiny journey; pay no attention to those who see what is happening to you for no fault of yours and condemn you.
That viper may have had the potential to harm Paul, but it did not have the final say on Paul’s destiny. It didn’t even come to Paul because Paul was a murderer like they assumed. Kindly announce to those who are judging you harshly that you are not what they think you are; you are not what they have judged you to be; you are not finished if that is what they think; and they do not have the final say on your destiny.
Paul’s identity was not a function of the feelings the barbarians had about him; it was a function of what God said about him. When the chips are down, you are not what your haters think you are; your identity is of Christ; your identity is derived from God’s word concerning you; your identity is a function of the Supernatural; you are a product of the words of God, not the assumption and perception of men.
Dismiss the negative judgements that do not explain who you are; you are not what men say you are; you are whom God says you are.
