June 8, 2022

Shake it off

And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”  Mark 6:11

I talked about offense yesterday and how the people of Jesus’ hometown were offended because they thought they know who Jesus was. They were not willing to admit that they could have been wrong or that maybe there was something they didn’t know about Him.

We have many opportunities in life to become offended and we often take them.  Maybe because of something that was said, or maybe it was something that wasn’t said.  Usually, we become offended because of some action that someone did that we didn’t feel was appropriate or the “right” thing to do.

Today’s scripture is the answer and solution to when we are tempted to get offended.  Jesus told the disciples to go out into other cities and minister there by giving them power.  He told them not to take any provisions with them and trust that the people being ministered to would take care of them.  Then He tells them that if their message and power they offered were not received, don’t hold on to hurt feelings and disappointments but shake it off and it would be a testimony against them.

That is what we must do when offense or any hurt and bitter feelings try to take over our heart, shake it off.  Of course, this is easier said than done.  As I said earlier, I was heading in the direction of offense and didn’t even realize it until days later.  So, the first step to staying out of offense is to recognize when the temptation is coming.  Although offense is very subtle, you can recognize its symptoms right from the beginning.  First peace will leave your heart and you begin thinking about the situation almost continuously.  Fear will settle in, and you begin to wonder why this happened and how could someone be that way?  Then you will begin to rally those closest to you around your hurt feeling by telling them the situation which ultimately results in complaining about and criticizing those involved.  Most times when you are getting offended, you do not want to go right to God with the subject, you want to examine it from every angle first.

After you have set these warning signs in place and use these feelings as an alarm to alert you when you are stepping toward the bait of offense, the first step is to go to God and get your peace back.  Then ask for the power to shake off the resentment and disappointment that was trying to trip you up. Wait there until you have received that release. Then thank your Father in heaven for empowering to stay away from offense and keep love in your heart.

Today I want to encourage you to shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against whatever and whoever is bringing an offense toward you.  Set the boundaries and use the feelings that come in when you are turning toward offense as a warning to you to go to your heavenly Father instead.  Ask Him to forgive you and whoever has hurt you and then ask for the power to shake these feeling off and get your peace back.  Offense is a trap, and the good news is you can escape it and avoid it.  By talking to God first and staying there until you have release. Then you can stay out of the enemy plan to snare you in those ugly bitter feelings of being offended.

Today’s scripture reading: Mark 6:7-13

7 And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. 

8 He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts— 

9 but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.

10 Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. 

11 And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”

12 So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.