And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Matthew 10:14
We have recently seen the restraints, limitations, and mandates removed or lifted from the recent Covid-19 pandemic that shook our world. Whether you agree or not is not the issue here. Men were scurrying trying to come up with guidelines to stop cross contamination. Six feet apart, mask, wash your hands, use sanitizer, vaccinate, boost, re-boost. All in a consorted effort to try and stop an unseen enemy that was terrifying, chilling, and distressing our world.
Five times, “shake the dust off” is mentioned in scripture, Isaiah 52:2, Matthew 10:4, Mark 6:11, Luke 9:5 and in Acts 13:51 Paul and Barnabas did it. Isaiah told Israel to shake off the dust and rise, sit down, and loose thyself from the bands of thy neck.
Jesus said shake the dust off your feet and move on. Don’t carry everyone’s dirt with you, leave it with them. It is amazing how we have renamed dust. We call it everything but what it is, prayer request, concern, apprehension, and even go to the point of saying, “I am only saying this because I love them and want them help.”
The instruction was clear. Even Barney Fife got it, nip it, nip it, nip it in the bud. Someone doesn’t appreciate, accept, want to entertain, hear, or take time for you. Do not sink to their level! Shake it off and move on. Leave it there. Do not cross contaminate the next situation with things that have no meaning to the rest of your day, job, or relationship with others. Quit destroying present opportunities with dirt from past relationships that were filled with toxic waste.
Our prayer for your this week:
May you find the courage to shake off the dirt of the past unsuccessful relationships and walk into a pure future.
