16 August 2007 Devotion for Today “Shake the Dust Off” Luke 9:1-5
It wasn’t very long ago I took a jug of milk out of the refrigerator to pour myself a drink. We had just come back from vacation and I thought- “I better drink that now or it will be spoiled soon.” Too late! If you have ever had a swig of sour milk, you know that every mucus membrane in your head is about to explode! I spewed that stuff out in the sink just as soon as I could I mean it was coming up out of my mouth, my nose, even my eyes were squirting sour milk, I think. I made no decision whatsoever about whether or not to hold on to it. I did not stand there and think, hmm, maybe if I just give it one more try- it will taste better, maybe its an acquired taste! Ain’t no way! My body just took over for me and did what it was designed to do. My entire system was involved to eject the toxic substance. Every muscle group I am aware of was involved.
As I pondered that experience I wondered why is it that other decisions can’t be made like that? Why is it that people have the tendency to hold on to bad relationships, bad jobs, friendships that are not good for them? Because they can’t imagine their lives without them. They fear the consequences more than the change for the better than can occur as a result. Its not like we don’t know what to do or what is hurting us. So why don’t we fix it- especially when personal growth, or relationships are concerned. Why do we stop doing what is natural?
Many times we stay the way we are because we fear someone’s anger, rejection, or hurt if we deal with the problem. I’ve known people who stay in a bad church situation, for example, because their 97 year old mother still goes there and they don’t want to abandon them, even though they are not getting the spiritual teaching they need. What’s worse is, 10 years after mama died, they are still in that situation because they don’t want to betray her memory! Often we fear someone’s judgment or disapproval when we deal with difficult things. We fear losing the relationship itself, or losing love. Sometimes we have guilty feelings when we confront someone or deal out consequences (that’s why parents have brats because they feel guilty when they have to punish them so they don’t do it, and then when those kids get older, they become even bigger brats). Sometimes we just don’t know what to say or what to do or feel paralyzed when the problem person comes back at us. Maybe we even blame ourselves and think we get what we deserve or we were the ones who caused it. I know you may be afraid, like going to the dentist, but taking the step may be one of the most difficult things you have ever done. Get Rid of it- just let it go.
In Luke 9 Jesus taught His disciples to respond in a very curious way when they encountered a certain amount of rejection for preaching the Gospel.
Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the
Shaking the dust off one’s feet? That doesn’t sound like Christ. But He did say this and here is why. Jesus wasn’t teaching His disciples to behave rudely or treat people with disrespect. But here is the picture. If they went to a town and that town or people rejected them, that was the town’s problem, not the disciples. If the disciples did the best they could do, there was no reason to allow that rejection to tear them apart as they went on to the next place of ministry. No need even to carry the memory of the dust from that place around with them. It just wasn’t worth it. Its better just to walk away from it then to expend so much negative energy worrying about what they did wrong, regretting missed opportunities, or how they could have done it better. Just shake the dust off their feet and go on.
That is very difficult for some people to accept. Often people choose to “hang out” in bad situations because they cannot accept the fact that the situation will not change, and they perceive themselves as a failure if they walk away from it.
Back in my era, the 1970s, there was a great “theologian” by the name of Kenny Rogers. He wasn’t really a theologian, but he was a good singer, and the lines of one of his songs really hits home when we are dealing with “shake the dust off your feet” situations: He used to sing: “You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, and know when to run!” You might not have thought of that song “The Gambler” as good theology, but it is. Accepting what we cannot change is crucial to knowing who we are in Jesus Christ, and His ability to overcome our limitations and redeem them for His glory.
Have a blessed day!
Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@embarqmail.com
jcrussell@liberty.edu
Church website: http://25621.lifewaylink.com
Devotion Archives: http://www.msnusers.com/DevotionforToday
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