I did not sleep so well last night. As our President announced new regulations for Lockdown, every measure put in place broke my spirit just a little bit more. Within an hour the notifications started coming through from friends in the hospitality industry that is closing their doors. Some for good, some with the hope of re-opening in a few months.
So this morning, I was praying about my mood. I have to walk into an executive meeting in a few hours and #speaklife… and all I can think is negative thoughts.
As I am praying, The same verse snippet keeps repeating in my head: “Liefde, vrede, vreugde en geduld. Liefde, vrede, vreugde en geduld.”
Love, Peace, Joy and Faithfulness…
With that, I openend my bible to search for wisdom and inspiration… and now for lesson #43 in taking the bible out of context:
In Mathew 10, Jesus sent out the disciples… Go out, Heal, Fix, Teach, Do Miracles, Give back Life and spread the message that God is near.
Now in verse 14, Jesus says:
“And if anyone doesn’t listen to you and rejects your message, when you leave that house or town, shake the dust off your feet as a prophetic act that you will not take their defilement with you. ”
Now… I know exactly what that translation means in the context of the chapter and the story, but this morning God showed me something else.
The Dust and the Defilement is also the rejection, the frustration, the anger and the bitterness that goes along with the situation. You cannot walk into the next town carrying ALL THAT GARBAGE (or as we are fond of saying, “bleeding over the people” ) and think for one Aramaic second that you will be effective in your message or your actions.
Let it go, and walk through the door with a smile and a blessing on the town, the people and the house you stay in. Only then can you bring life. Only then will you hear the Holy Spirit speak instead of brood on what is past & lost, only then will your mind be clear to be creative.
It is a new day, and in a few minutes the sun will rise with endless possibilities!
Today… be the Peace that others won’t have. Be the Joy that nobody feels. Be the Healer of frustration and anger today. Be Jesus, Be Love.
Be blessed!
