- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
- Messages
- 18,404
The strategy
As you enter the home, give it your greeting... If anyone will not welcome you,... shake the dust off your feet when you leave... Matthew 10:12-14
It’s been said of the English, ‘their home is their castle - they often value their privacy and don’t appreciate unwelcome callers’. Friends of mine once had a front doormat which had these words on it, ‘Oh no, not you again!’ I don’t think they only put it out for me! Things were different for the Jewish people of Jesus’ day because providing travellers with hospitality was an important virtue.
It was Jesus’ mission strategy to establish a critical mass of followers. He’d started with the Twelve, who were then to go and take the gospel message to others. Today’s verse is practical. What should disciples do if people don’t respond to their greeting, perhaps with ‘Oh no, not you again!’? Jesus says, ‘shake the dust off your feet when you leave…’ To ensure no unholy dust was clinging to their sandals, this was what pious Jews did when returning to holy ground from a pagan area. Likewise, the disciples were to move on, keeping their message pure and leaving the inhospitable to God. Matthew 10:15 gives a stark reminder of God’s judgement towards the unresponsive, mentioning Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction.
Remember, God is the judge and not you! Therefore, persistence in sharing our faith is important and you shouldn’t abandon the unwelcoming. However, the messenger must remain faithful and always make the best use of their time.
Prayer for today
Lord of the Harvest, direct me to where the crop is ripe, that I may share your message effectively. Amen.
As you enter the home, give it your greeting... If anyone will not welcome you,... shake the dust off your feet when you leave... Matthew 10:12-14
It’s been said of the English, ‘their home is their castle - they often value their privacy and don’t appreciate unwelcome callers’. Friends of mine once had a front doormat which had these words on it, ‘Oh no, not you again!’ I don’t think they only put it out for me! Things were different for the Jewish people of Jesus’ day because providing travellers with hospitality was an important virtue.
It was Jesus’ mission strategy to establish a critical mass of followers. He’d started with the Twelve, who were then to go and take the gospel message to others. Today’s verse is practical. What should disciples do if people don’t respond to their greeting, perhaps with ‘Oh no, not you again!’? Jesus says, ‘shake the dust off your feet when you leave…’ To ensure no unholy dust was clinging to their sandals, this was what pious Jews did when returning to holy ground from a pagan area. Likewise, the disciples were to move on, keeping their message pure and leaving the inhospitable to God. Matthew 10:15 gives a stark reminder of God’s judgement towards the unresponsive, mentioning Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction.
Remember, God is the judge and not you! Therefore, persistence in sharing our faith is important and you shouldn’t abandon the unwelcoming. However, the messenger must remain faithful and always make the best use of their time.
Prayer for today
Lord of the Harvest, direct me to where the crop is ripe, that I may share your message effectively. Amen.
