Shake the Dust from Your Feet

By Amy Schisler

“And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.” ~ Luke 9:5

A Chosen People

There is a Jewish custom that dates back thousands of years and was originally meant to symbolize and emphasize the separation between God’s Chosen People and the Gentiles. When a Jewish person shook the dust from his feet, it was meant to show that he was distancing himself from the unclean, unchosen non-Jews. He was making a declaration that he was one of God’s own, and the Gentiles were not.

When Jesus sent his disciples out into the towns in today’s Gospel, he instructed them, “And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them” (Luke 9:5). Jesus is turning the custom on its head, as He so often did. His disciples are declaring themselves to be the new Chosen and separating themselves from those who refused to follow Jesus.

Is There Dust on Your Feet?

This idiom is still used today and can certainly be applied to the Chosen vs. the unchosen. It can also be applied to any area of our lives that we leave behind to seek the better path.

Are you stuck in a bad situation—perhaps an abusive relationship, a dead-end career, or a habit you just can’t kick? Are you feeling like you need to move on, make changes, or become a better version of yourself? Perhaps you are seeking an elusive something just beyond your grasp or comprehension.

Have you prayed about it? Perhaps God is instructing you to shake the dust from your feet. Maybe it’s time for you to open yourself to His plan for you, His vision of your life. Listen to the call, follow your path, and shake the dust from your feet as you accept your part in God’s story.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, help me to see through my despair, my pain, my loneliness, and my doubt. Show me the path You wish me to follow, and help me leave the past behind by shaking the dust from my feet.

Call to Action:

Pray earnestly about your predicament. Ask the Lord to speak to your heart and the Holy Spirit to give you guidance. Talk to a spiritual director or a priest to determine where the Lord is leading you.

About the Author: Amy Schisler

An award-winning novelist, children’s book author, and spiritual writer, Amy is also a speaker, retreat leader, and pilgrimage coordinator / leader. Amy has published numerous novels, picture books, devotionals, and a Bible study. She spent twenty years leading women's Bible studies before a pilgrimage to the Holy Land changed her life forever and led her to the ministry she runs today. Her mission and passion is helping people deepen their understanding of the faith and form an intimate relationship with Christ.

Empowering women to work within their God-given gifts

Empowering women to work within their God-given gifts

Shake the Dust from Your Feet