Matthew 10:14-15 (NIV®)
“If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”
These verses come AFTER Jesus sent the twelve disciples to spread the news that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand and BEFORE telling them that there would be persecution. He gave them power to perform miracles, warned them of potential trouble and sent them anyway.
I have been thinking about these verses. I think about how we are supposed to take the news of God and His Kingdom to those around us. I think about all of those who either look at us like we have three heads or outright hate us for speaking truth. I hope there are some who listen but there is no guarantee of that.
We are told in scripture to contend for the faith. We are to open our mouths and speak. There will be those who deny and reject truth. We should not be surprised. We should expect it. Like the disciples, we speak in peace, look for those who might respond favorably and do not shrink back if the audience is contrary. We speak the truth and see what God will do.
Sadly, the outcome for those who do not listen to the truth is clear. If all that is left of Sodom and Gomorrah is ashes, then I can’t imagine how anything could be worse, but Jesus said it will be. That should give impetus to our efforts because we know their destiny and we don’t want to leave empty dust. Empty dust? Yes. Empty because we didn’t speak truth.
So we contend for the faith. We make the effort to peaceably have conversations with those around us. We don’t get sidetracked or distracted. We fulfill our purpose for that time and place and then move on. If truth is accepted, we leave peace in that place and in those people. If it is not, we understand that we have no control over the situation. It is God who draws men to Himself. We are just messengers. The dust from our shoes will show we were there. Let’s make sure the dust is good.