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“When the dust settles” means…
what?
It refers to what happens when we see clearer or better understand after a period of confusion, misunderstanding, or change. Sometimes we must stop struggling long enough for it to settle. Would you agree?
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Now, on with today’s message. Consider this scenario:
Someone says untrue things about you to someone. The “someone” then takes up their offense and rejects you. You confront them. They respond, “I know what you did.” You point out that they cannot know because they were not there. They have no way to know. They retort, “I know it’s true because they told me.”
In law, this is called “hearsay”. There is a reason it is disallowed in court testimony: It is unreliable, unsubstantiated, second-hand information. Hearsay is little more than rumor and gossip. Some people without wisdom or discernment believe it.
Paul and Barnabas experienced this in today’s Scripture passage. The religious leaders incited weak-minded, easily manipulated people to make false claims against them. What they did we must do–and this is to disregard such people and focus on the purpose to which God appointed us.
We must walk a difficult, fine line when such people do us harm. We forgive them, but then, this does not mean that they are no longer accountable for their actions or that we should excuse their bad behavior. It does mean that we yield to God’s authority, thereby acknowledging that their judgment is His to render and not ours.
We can only walk this line successfully with God’s guidance, discernment, and wisdom. This is what I believe we must do:
Disregard someone who thinks or speaks ill of you because all that really matters is God’s opinion of you. When you accept this as the most important thing in your life, all those other opinions become irrelevant.
Figuratively shake off the dust and move on. God has better and greater things for you to do than grapple in the dust with them. They believe they are right because someone told them so. As long as you are in agreement with God, you are in the right because God says so.
It will all be clear when the dust settles.
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But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 13:50-52 NIV)
Prayer: LORD, people sometimes believe things that are not true. When opposition comes from such sources, give me courage to disregard what they think, shake off the dust of the struggle, and trust the outcome to You. Make certain that what I believe is in agreement with You. Then, help me pray for them to understand what is right and true in You and not be misled. Do whatever You need to do to make it so. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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“Today’s Seed” from E-MIN Dec. 29, 2022
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