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Shake Off the Dust - Mark 6:6-11

Jesus was very surprised because those people did not have faith. Then Jesus went to other villages in that area and taught. Jesus called the twelve followers together. Jesus sent them out in groups of two. Jesus gave them power over evil spirits. This is what Jesus told his followers: "Take nothing for your trip. Take only a stick for walking. Take no bread, no bag, and no money in your pockets. Wear shoes, and take only the clothes you are wearing. When you enter a house, stay in that house until you leave that town. If any town refuses to accept you or refuses to listen to you, then leave that town. Shake their dust off your feet. This will be a warning to them." (ERV) Full Text

Key Thought

After witnessing Jesus' experience in Nazareth (in the preceding verses), his disciples knew that not everyone would welcome their Master, much less his teaching. They were under no illusions. If they had any remaining doubts that they would meet resistance and rejection, his directions to them made it clear that they would. He told them what they were to take with them on their mission, how they were to conduct themselves, and what they were to do when their message was not received. However, their message was a vital one. They warned the people about the importance of turning from their sins. They displayed Jesus' power over the demonic world. They blessed many with healing. In other words, they extended their Master's message to many more people than Jesus could reach by himself. However, when they were rejected, they were to move on and do God's work where it was more warmly received, not wasting their time trying to convince those who would not believe.


Today's Prayer

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O LORD God Almighty, thank you for your grace. Thank you for your mercy. Thank you for your gospel. Please help me to not take rejection of your message by others personally. Instead, dear Father, please use me to help others understand that they are making a decision about their life, their sins, their eternal destiny, and the source of their grace. When rejection comes, help me to move on and trust that the seeds of grace that have been planted may germinate at some other time, but that there are others who need your message now and are ready to hear it and need me to move on and find them. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Today's Verses in Context


Jesus left there and went back to his home town. His followers went with him. On the Sabbath day Jesus taught in the synagogue. Many people heard him teach and were amazed. These people said, "Where did this man get this teaching? How did he get this wisdom? Who gave it to him? And where did he get the power to do miracles ? {Surely, not from God!} He is only the carpenter. And his mother is Mary. He is the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters are here with us." The people did not accept Jesus. Jesus said to the people, "Other people give honor to a prophet. But in his own town with his own people and in his own home, a prophet does not get honor." Jesus was not able to do many miracles in that town. The only miracles he did were to heal some sick people by putting his hands on them. Jesus was very surprised because those people did not have faith. Then Jesus went to other villages in that area and taught. Jesus called the twelve followers together. Jesus sent them out in groups of two. Jesus gave them power over evil spirits. This is what Jesus told his followers: "Take nothing for your trip. Take only a stick for walking. Take no bread, no bag, and no money in your pockets. Wear shoes, and take only the clothes you are wearing. When you enter a house, stay in that house until you leave that town. If any town refuses to accept you or refuses to listen to you, then leave that town. Shake their dust off your feet. This will be a warning to them." The followers left there and went to other places. They talked to the people and told them to change their hearts and lives. The followers forced many demons out of people. And the followers put olive oil on sick people and healed them.

— Mark 6:1-13 (ERV)

 

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When the non-Jewish people heard Paul say this, they were happy. They gave honor to the message of the Lord. And many of the people believed the message. These were the people chosen to have life forever. And so the message of the Lord was being told through the whole country. But the Jews caused some of the important religious women and the leaders of the city to become angry and to be against Paul and Barnabas. These people did things against Paul and Barnabas and threw them out of town. So Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet. Then they went to the city of Iconium. But the followers {of Jesus in Antioch} were happy and full of the Holy Spirit. —Acts 13:48-52 (ERV)

But the Jews there would not accept Paul's teaching. They said some very bad things. So Paul shook off the dust from his clothes. He said to the Jews, "If you are not saved, it will be your own fault! I have done all I can do! After this, I will go only to non-Jewish people!" —Acts 18:6 (ERV)

So the person who refuses to obey this teaching is refusing to obey God, not man. And God is the One who gives you his Holy Spirit. —1 Thessalonians 4:8 (ERV)