Shake the Dust off Your Feet: Christian Living
My last post talked about what it means to be unequally yoked—if you missed that update, I highly advise you take a look at it, it’s a good one, I promise—we discussed the unhealthy relationships Christians should not get involved in but I want to take the time to talk about what happens next.
So, you read my last article and you thought about it, you thought about it hard … And you’ve realized maybe there are some people you may be unequally yoked with and you want to begin filtering your friends and family, but you feel troubled by it. It doesn’t feel right, it doesn’t feel kind or even godly. So, what do you do now?
My advice comes from Matthew 10:14 NIV If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.
What does this scripture mean?
It’s important that you know and understand the context of this verse; in this passage, Jesus is talking to His disciples giving them instructions before He sends them into the world to preach the good news of Christ’s love. One of His instructions stands out to me very strongly because it tells us what to do when we are not accepted. If anyone will not welcome you.
The reason I use this scripture as an example is because I want you to realize that, as a Child of God, the instructions given in this passage [Matthew 10:1-14] aren’t just for Jesus’ disciples, they aren’t just for preachers or teachers or evangelists. We are all responsible for spreading the good news of Christ; whether that is through preaching, testifying, or simply by living a life that demonstrates what it means to be a righteous Believer. So, you must understand that when you find yourself unequally yoked, it isn’t a matter of cutting people off or pushing everyone away.
It is a matter of rejection.
You are unequally yoked because your friend, companion, or significant other has rejected Christ, and in rejecting God our Father they have rejected you.
I don’t want anyone who read my last article, Being Unequally Yoked, to think this means they are in a position to push anyone away. My friend, what you should have learned from that article is that you have already been pushed away by them.
When someone does not accept Christ as their Savior, they have effectively rejected Him—this means they have also rejected you. Remember that we are one in Christ [John 14:20], rejecting the Father is the same as rejecting you. So don’t feel upset or troubled about filtering your friends or even family members. You are not cutting off ties or pushing everyone out of your life, you are getting rid of people who already gave up on you.
Do you know what it means to shake the dust off your feet?
Think of this command as having the same meaning as washing your hands. Have you ever heard that expression? It means to be done or rid of the situation. Having done everything you can to share the gospel with your friends and/or family, if they simply are not open to accepting Christ then shake the dust off your feet. Wash your hands of them. Be done or rid of those people who have rejected your father.
When it comes to being unequally yoked and filtering your friends/family, its important to make sure you have put forth the effort to share the gospel with those around you who are unsaved. Not everyone will be perceptive of the good news but its our job as Believers to give our companions the opportunity to accept or reject the message. I’m not saying we are all preachers trying to win souls to the Body of Christ, but I am saying our lives are a walking billboard for the gospel. It is our duty to show others the love of Christ, we must do this before we decide whether or not to keep someone in our life.
As always, in this lesson, please remember that you can have people in your life without being yoked to them. Just keep in mind what purpose your relationship serves and always take the time to step back and ask yourself if you are more committed to Christ or to your friends/family.
God bless.