Shake the Dust

And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. _{Matthew 10:14}

I’m sure you have heard someone say, ‘just shake it off’, meaning, whatever another person has said which has upset or annoyed you, don’t let it get under your skin. The Lord knew that not everyone who heard the Word would accept it; a lot would turn away or even ridicule those who spoke it. Jesus did not want his disciples to be distracted or discouraged by those who weren’t ready to receive the good news. Likewise, today, if someone is not interested in what you have to say, then shake it off and move on.

There are people all around us who are searching for the one true God, whether they realise it at the time or not. They just know that they are looking for something – something different, something better, something real. These are the people Jesus wants us to reach.

Throughout your life, you will have lots of conversation with lots of different people. As you share the good news of Jesus, some will be ready to listen and some won’t want to know. Either way, you are just the messenger. Your job is to share, not save. You are the seed sower, and as we know, not all ground is ready to receive the seed.

When you feel a conversation is going nowhere, don’t be afraid to shake the dust off and walk on, for there are many others just waiting to hear life-changing news.