Rejection Joy

Acts 13:51-52

So they shook the dust from their feet as a sign of rejection and went to the town of Iconium. And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

When Paul and Barnabas preached in Antioch of Pisidia the whole town turned out to hear them. Naturally, this ruffled some feathers among the “religious” folks. It didn’t matter, they kept on preaching. The Gentiles received Paul’s message with gladness, and they, too, became believers.

Eventually the leaders riled up women and influential leaders to shout down Paul and Barnabas,  and run them out of town. As Paul and Barnabas left, they shook the dust off of their sandals and boogied down the road. Pretty lousy way to have to leave, right?

But the next verse ties it all together. Paul and Barnabas left town unceremoniously, but the believers were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. Even though Paul and Barnabas were rejected by some, their preaching lived on in the new believers. Who knows how many people came to Christ after Paul and Barnabas got booted? God’s Word lives on in believers.

Our lives can be like that at times. Your family or friends may reject your message, but the Holy Spirit can use it in their lives. You may feel like shaking the dust off of your feet as you leave, but you have planted a seed. That seed can grow into something amazing in their lives. So don’t let rejection get you down, the joy of salvation may be just around the corner for the people you love.

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