Shaking the Dust....

image link

Matthew 10:11-15  And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.   And when ye come into an house, salute it.   And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. 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.  Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

There is someone that I've been carrying a burden over for a couple of years now, somehow I feel responsible for her having turned away from Jesus as those in the gospel of John turned away from Him after following Him, seeking blessings and miracles and signs, and He confronted their shallowness, and instead of being humbled by it and asking forgiveness, they turned and walked away from Him, never to follow Him again (see John chapter 6, and particularly that fateful moment of turning away at verse 66)

I know there will be those that won't humble themselves to the truth, if they humble themselves, it is to look "good" to others who may be watching them, so they can get kudos for their "goodness" and "humility"....much like the Pharisees did while Jesus walked on earth. I tend to want to help them see the error of their way. Maybe if I word it just right they will see, then they will understand....but am I better than the Holy Spirit? Can my flesh improve on the truth of God's word as He convicts their hearts causing a reaction that the Holy Spirit was unable to achieve without my helpful assistance? 

Well....I got told today to listen and obey my Bible and shake the dust off my feet and leave...a blunt way of telling me to take a hike....and she is right, of course, that is what I'm supposed to do. Being told by her to do so I take as a final call, the curtain has dropped on her performance where my interaction with it is concerned...we are completely done, and whether she ever turns to the Lord in repentance or, like the John chapter 6 people, never does, I will not know, it isn't for me to know. It isn't for me to try to change the outcome. I have been told to leave it alone.

image link

Yes, of course that is true, and the world is offended by the Truth because the world rejects Jesus...however, I don't want to do talk about the Truth, about Jesus, just to be offensive, to prove anything to Him, or to the world, or to my friends. We are to tell the truth, and the truth will offend, but the truth also cuts both ways. What others are guilty of I am also guilty of. When others reject Jesus, I also have rejected Jesus. When others "get it wrong" I have and still do also get it wrong. So does that mean I should not say anything, to anyone, about everything??? I would have to be a mute in order to be able to accomplish that. No, evil triumphs when "good people" say and do nothing. The Bible says "none are good" except God, so does that mean I should shut up because I am not good, only God is good after all, and He can handle His own business without my interference. Except He has also said that whoever is ashamed of Him He will be ashamed of when we meet Him...and if I never talk about Him wouldn't it be because I am ashamed to do so? As much as I talk about Jesus, that isn't going to be my problem, mine is the opposite. I just don't want to give up, it feels like giving up, and my stubborn Dutch blood won't let it happen.

Yet I can take a hint...especially when it is delivered with a sledge hammer. "Why don't you do what the Bible tells you to do and shake the dust off your feet!?"....not a very subtle suggestion, eh? An instruction that I can follow, in the Lord's strength....not kicking dust in her face, just shaking off the remnants of any bad feelings I may have regarding the whole situation, and leaving it with the Lord, for Him to deal with perfectly, in His time. 

:) 

Yes, I can of course trust Him with that.