Shake The Dust Off Your Feet

Acts 13:50-52

Paul and Barnabas are now in the midst of a successful ministry. When there is success from a spiritual perspective Satan will be there to oppose. In this situation Jews aroused people to persecute Paul and Barnabas and literally chase them out of the area.

Paul remembered counsel from the Lord Jesus to the disciples recorded in Matt. 10:14 “And whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake off the dust of your feet.” That was a physical act reflecting a mental attitude we should take toward those who oppose us. Basically the Lord is saying, don’t waste your time on them, move on to someone who will be receptive to you. Don’t get depressed or dejected by opposition. Don’t waste your time arguing with them. Move on.

This is extremely good counsel. Often when I’ve been opposed I’ve felt guilty for not being able to convince someone of something or upset because they reject my witness. This attitude can lead to a hesitancy or fear of sharing our faith, or standing for the truth because we don’t like to be rejected. It may be a cliché but we should remember we are not being rejected, our Savior is. Their relationship with Him is between He and them.

Consider the fact that no one was rejected as much as the Lord Jesus. He was rejected to the point of death; but even in that death, He triumphed. These thoughts bring to my mind one of my favorite passages of Scripture: “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life.”
You are sure to face opposition in your life. Don’t let it get you down. Shake the dust off your feet and move on. God has great things in mind for you.