Shake the Dust off Your Feet!

(Luke 9:5) “If the people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them.”

In living a victorious Christian life you must be aware of the devil’s tactics; one being offense. He loves to pit people against each other and twist the view of what one person says and how it is truly meant and how the other person interprets. In letting someone offend you by something they say or do it hurts both of you; because you usually end up in an argument or not talking at all. This opens the door for unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment to take root in your heart and when this happens, it will show and effect how you treat other people as well. (Luke 6:45) “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”

Jesus came to bring peace, love, forgiveness and reconciliation; not hostility. (Ephesians 2:14-16) “For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the divine wall of hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility.” Jesus says, “My peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.”

He came to bring peace and reconciliation not only between us and God; but also between us and all of mankind. We are to “love our neighbor as our self,” not fight with them. (Proverbs 19:11) “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” So, when someone offends you, shake it off! Leave it in God’s hands to bring about justice. He will bring about justice, but in a way that will convict them of their wrongdoing and change their heart as well. (Romans 12:17-21) “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is Mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord. On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

We were enemies of Jesus while we lived in a life of sin before receiving His forgiveness, and He died for us. Out of His great love for us He forgives us; so forgive one another. Never forget what Jesus did for you. (Psalm 103:2-5) “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits--who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Letting offense take root in your heart will keep your heart in bondage to pain and anger as well as bitterness and unforgiveness. Letting go and shaking it off shows how much you have grown and matured in Christ. (Ephesians 4:1-3) “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

We are to grow more and more into the image of Christ. When His accusers slapped Him, He turned the other cheek, when they spit on Him and uttered many horrible things at Him, He said nothing. It is to our benefit to do that as well and not give Satan the glory of stealing our joy. (Proverbs 17:9) “He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.”

The next time someone tries to offend you or start and argument with you remember your Lord and Savior and shake it off! You truly will grow more and more into His likeness and there is always light ahead; the light of His love, victory, protection and provision!

(Philippians 2: 5-8) “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God; did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross!”