In the book of Acts it is recorded that, as a man crippled from birth listened to Paul’s preaching, he was moved to have the faith to be healed. Paul then spoke to the man to get on his feet, which he did, before all the people assembled there:

“Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, ‘The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!’ And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.” (Acts 14:11-13) 

At this point in the story, the people were ready to hail Paul and Barnabas as gods, an error that Paul and Barnabas attempted to correct. However, unbelievers from Antioch and Iconium influenced the crowds in Lystra to stone the same men who, just a few minutes, they regarded as gods. People truly are fickle. 

People love you one minute and hate you in the next one. By and large, this is an indication of emotional instability, especially when it comes to affections and attachments. Might I further suggest that being fickle is, or could be, an indication of being double-minded. As we know, someone who is double-minded is “unstable in all their ways.” This is quite dangerous when you consider that, among those who hailed Jesus as the King Messiah on the day He entered into Jerusalem in a procession of waving palm branches and shouts of “Hosannah,” were in another crowd on another day saying, “Crucify Him!” They went so far as to say to Pilate:

“His blood be on us and on our children.” (Matthew 27:25)

To which Yeshua would later allude and say:

 “Don’t weep for Me. Weep for yourselves and for your children.” (Luke 23:28)

Being fickle, or allowing yourself to be incited by those you suppose to be righteous, can be hazardous to your health, and to that of your children. We need to be the opposite. We need to be stable people, consistent people and properly balanced people. We need to be  governed – mind, body and spirit – by the Holy Spirit, so that we will not be blown about by every wind of doctrine that comes along. This is especially critical in the age of the internet when information – much of it false – is coming at us every second of the day. If we are led by His Spirit, then we won’t be led astray by someone else’s opinions and self-interests. Be committed to be led by the Spirit. 

Shalom.