Hold on to your "pearls"

"Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces." Matthew 7:6 (NKJV)

The bible warns about the "scoffers" and the "mockers" in 2 Peter 3:3 (NKJV) and you will find them in many areas of our lives; including in our families. In Proverbs 9:7-8 (NKJV) it reads "He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you."

DO NOT WASTE GOOD THINGS ON PEOPLE WHO WILL NOT ACCEPT THEM in other words,

"Do not cast your pearls before swine." This is a segment from the "Sermon on the Mount," when JESUS had just completed instructing the people concerning judgment and reproof. In Matthew 7:1, He instructs how to judge carefully without any hypocrisy. “Judge not, that you be not judged," which does not mean that we are to withhold judgment because JESUS completes this by saying: “Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5) He also reaffirms this in John 7:24. So do not waste good things on people who will not accept the message because not everyone you deliver the precious "pearls" in the gospel" is going to accept them and we can learn that it is alright to "hold on to your pearls" and walk away without feeling hopeless. Please consider what is written in Ephesians 4:17-18 (NKJV)

This I say, therefore, and testify in the LORD, that you should "no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of GOD, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;"

SHAKE THE DUST OFF YOUR FEET

Once you have your "pearls" then, "Shake the dust off your feet" which is a testimony against someone who has rejected the message. This saying is connected to the Jewish culture as a symbol of renunciation. In Matthew 10:14 JESUS taught the Apostles to “depart from a house or city whenever the message was rejected. This will release any responsibility on what may come on a person after they have rejected the message delivered.

Finally, as followers of CHRIST, it is natural to want to see many people saved as GOD does not want any to perish but to have everlasting life as written in 2 Peter 3:8-10. However, it is important to be reminded not to carry any offenses after the message of the gospel has been delivered and rejected. As followers of CHRIST, we will face people who will receive the message and those who don't want to accept it. However, we are never to shrink back whenever we are called to declare the counsel of GOD (Acts 20:27). We are to rely on the sword of truth to get us through, which is the word of GOD.