Mark 6:11 (ESV)
And if any place
will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off
the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.
Lunch room rules state a student must remain in the same
seat. No getting up or changing places. New students often feel uncomfortable
regardless of where they sit, especially if they don't know anyone-and *Scarlet
didn't. One student, however, took the initiative to break the rule. The lunch
room lady assumed she was coming to ask permission to go to the bathroom or her
locker. Imagine her surprise when instead she asked, "Dr. Wiles, can me
and ____ go and sit by the new girl. She's sitting by herself?" Last year,
she had been the new girl. She had learned how rejection felt and didn't want someone
else to experience what she had tasted. An honorable act of intervention.
Jesus sent his disciples out with a message of love and
an offer of forgiveness. He knew, however, they would be rejected by many.
"But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust
from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to
their fate."
The ways we can show acceptance are abundant. Among them
are showing forgiveness when we've been wronged, giving restoration to someone
who has failed, initiating friendships, and encouraging those who are
discouraged.
What's one way you can show acceptance to someone today?
Dear Lord, when others reject someone help us be the ones
who accept them. Help us keep our eyes
open today to happy someone today. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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