LEAVE IF THEY DON’T BELIEVE

LEAVE IF THEY DON’T BELIEVE

Daily in The Word

May 1, 2021

 

Mark 6:5-6

And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief, and he went round about the villages, teaching.

 

 

When you know what you know and you really know it, you don’t have to force others to know what you know if they don’t like to know about it. Just do what you know and show that you really know.

 

     Spending your energy convincing and persuading people to agree with you by presenting your arguments logically and intellectually or suggesting and hosting a debate is nothing but a waste of time. Forget about it and stop proving yourself. Just leave if they don’t believe. Life is too short to dwell on something that you know will not bring you anywhere but will just keep your feet and hands tied like a prisoner locked in a dark corner: depressed, disappointed, feeling like a failure and wallowing yourself in self-pity. Come on, stand up! You don’t belong to that place; you know who you are, and you know what you are capable of doing. Don’t allow others’ unbelief to nullify your God-given faith. Just because some disapproved you doesn’t mean you’re not approved by God. When your faith is shaken, always look back where you came from and how you reached to where you are right now. Look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Ponder how he responded when not everyone believed on Him; instead of making more miracles to prove Himself to them, he stopped because of their unbelief (Mark 6:5-6). Jesus left them and went round about the villages, teaching. Look around, expand and extend your horizon; there are more people to reach out; be sensitive to every need, if God gives you the power to meet that need, then do something, but if not, don’t feel guilty, helpless or useless, trust rather that what the Lord wants from you on that very moment is nothing but your presence and your prayers, just be there and let God do the rest.

 

     This also is very true in every relationship: making a family or friendship, doing business or ministry in church. That’s why before you jump in, before you commit yourself to anything or anyone, make sure you understand your purpose; double check your plans, motives, most especially your passion or calling. Are you moving in the same direction? If not, then, don’t get yourself into that boat. If you insist, it’s gonna be a very chaotic journey for all of you; one is rowing to the east, and the other one to the west; the result? You’ll only find yourself in exhaustion; sadly, you're not going anywhere. As we check or evaluate ourselves whether we are in the right track or not, our personal agendas shouldn’t be our basis. We should go back to Jesus very own purpose of His coming. It’s not to do His own agenda, but to do the will of His Father: to seek and to save that which was lost. So whatever we find ourselves doing or engaging, we  have to ask ourselves, "Is it for the furtherance of the gospel or for the expansion of God’s Kingdom?" If not, think again!

 

      Do you know why Jesus didn’t tarry with those who don’t believe? It’s not because He is impatient with them, or He didn’t care about them. He didn’t take them as His enemy. He knew the real enemy. It’s time. Yes, everything is about the time; He was counting His time on earth; He knew that He was about to leave; if He will waste His time spending with the hardheaded, He might not be able to reach those whose heart has been waiting and seeking for the truth for so long. It’s also true to us today. Sometimes, we have to let go of those people in our lives who don’t believe what we believe, not because we hate them or we stop caring about them, but it’s just that, to abide with them is a waste of time; playing a tag of war game, adjusting each other’s differences, trying to compromise our own belief just to save that relationship although we know we will never be at peace with it; for we know our grounds, and we stand to it firmly to be true. Maybe playing this kind of game can keep a relationship for a while, but until when? Until you get tired, and then you give up? Isn’t it a waste of time? Then we talk to ourselves like this, “At least I tried, and I’ve learned my lesson now.” Hey! Do we really have to learn our lessons the hard way? God gave us His Word, the Bible. He gave it for our instructions, so that we can create our own journey and a lot better story of obedience with Him than the people before, not to make the mistakes and failures of these people in the past as our consolation or to excuse and justify our willful disobedience. I’m not trying to antagonize those who do this, but my point is, let us allow the Word of God to lead us, so that we will not commit the same mistakes of these people of faith in the past again today.

 

     The time is at hand, and it’s the end of the harvest. That’s why everyone of us has to make sure that wherever we are, whoever we are with in the boat, we are heading in the same direction. It is to serve and honor God in everything we do. Let us be with people that we know we will be more productive for His kingdom and be more fruitful to whatever calling He has called us to do. We will know them, for they will stand for us and support us with our God-given dreams and desires. When we fail, they will not blame but comfort us. When we are successful, they won’t get jealous but rejoice with us. We know who they are, we can feel their sincerity. So let’s stick and do wonders together with them for the glory of God.

 

 

LET’S PRAY!

 

Dear God,

We praise You O Father for Your only Son. We glorify You O God for giving us Jesus to lead us and to teach us how to respond in every circumstance that You allow us to experience. Thank you for teaching us not to make our life so complicated: to let go of those we don’t need, but to hold those who need us. Thank You for Your wisdom that simplifies our thoughts and tames our emotions. Please forgive us for the times that we insist to have this and that, and cleanse us from all the affections and desires which are not Yours. Please give us Lord the courage to obey You, every step of the way. Direct us where and when to go, pause or stop. Please continue to bring us to the right place and to the right people. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!