Why, Shake off the Dust? Remember Jesus said in Matt 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, “when ye depart out of that house or city”, shake off the dust of your feet. Why? Why did he tell them to shake off the dust, when they lived in a very dusty city? What is dust really?
What is Dust, Anyway?
Dust is the collective term used to describe the wide variety of organic and inorganic particles that collect in our homes and cities. Here’s an unpleasant thought: The majority of dust is made up from shed skin cells. So dust is “dead skin!” Dust is what dies from this body and is left behind! Yes, dust is the refuse of our skin! No wonder because Gen 2:7 tells us “ And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
So, as we travel to, and from home, throughout our house, and yes everywhere, we come in contact with other human beings ( DEATH) dust! Their lives affect us! Their opinions hurt or bless us and being in their vicinity leaves residue! Residue means “whats left over!”
Why should we dust if off?
People who reject us, affect us. We could live our lifetime with feelings of rejection – if we carry these humans around with us. Their thoughts, hatreds, ideas and opinions impact us. Jesus said, basically, do not carry their death along with you. Dust off the death and keep walking! We can love the person, and still dust off their negative effects on us. We can pray for them and still recognize that if we allow them, their death will linger around and on us !
From dust we come, and to dust we will return, but I do not have to carry your dead weight or skin around with me. I can shake off all the death you have thrown over on me, walk away lighter, and full of joy because It’s not mine to carry! There’s an old saying, “opinions are like __holes, everyone has one. lol! Yes, they do.
A free discourse of opinions is actually healthy and sometimes invigorating. However, when that discourse is with an overbearing, intimidating human being – you could be left with a load of dust. So Jesus told his followers – they hate you, shake it off. They hurt you, – shake it off and they threw you out – so dust off the death they live in and move on!
Amen!
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