Scripture:
And whoever will not receive and accept and welcome you nor listen to your message, as you leave that house or town, shake the dust [of it] from your feet.
— Matthew 10:14 (AMPC)
Study:
Jesus gave instructions to His disciples regarding how to handle rejection. He told them to “shake it off.” Basically, He was saying, “Don’t let it bother you. Don’t let it keep you from doing what I have called you to do.”
Jesus was despised and rejected (see Isaiah 53:3), and yet He never seemed to let it bother Him. I am sure He felt pain just as you and I do when we experience rejection, but He did not let it prevent Him from fulfilling His purpose.
Jesus told His disciples not to be concerned about rejection because, in reality, people who rejected them were really rejecting Jesus (see Luke 10:16). Why should you concern yourself with the opinions of people? You cannot control what they think, so leave them and their opinions in God’s hands and focus on doing God’s will.
Prayer of the Day:
Dear Lord, help me to follow Jesus’ example and not be deterred by rejection. Give me the courage to focus on Your will and not concern myself with the opinion of others, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
