April 24 - Matthew 7:6

April 24 - Matthew 7:6

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

Now, while Jesus was telling his disciples that they weren't to be judgmental, he follows up by saying that they should be discerning, especially with something as holy and precious as the good news.

While everyone needs to hear it, there is no reason that we are to continue setting ourselves up for abuse if people obstinately reject the message. At some point, Christians are to shake the dust off their feet and move on.

Dad served in one church that wanted nothing to do with the message of peace, hope and love. They were quite content in their petty gossiping and small mindedness.  They didn't  ant to invite new people to join them, they were content as they were. They didn't  ant to help out in the community, they felt they had earned their money and it needed to stay with them.  They tried to tell him that he shouldn't preach a challenging gospel, that he needed to talk about things that made them feel good.

My parents made no long term friends in that community, a strange experience to be sure.  The people were so focused on themselves they couldn't imagine an outsider becoming a member of their clique.

When we left, while my parents didn't literally shake the dust off their feet, there was a profound sense of relief.  God gave them new opportunities with amazing people who were always thirsting and hungering after God’s word.