Monday Memo 1257: Go Where You're Celebrated
An important lesson in a life of purpose is learning where to invest yourself and when to move on. Many people assume that if they work hard enough, explain themselves clearly enough, or persevere long enough, eventually everyone will understand, appreciate, or receive what they have to offer. They believe that their home area is the place, the only place, where God wants to use them. Paul’s life teaches something different.
In Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas preached boldly and effectively. The Word of the Lord spread throughout the whole region, and many people responded positively. Yet not everyone celebrated what God was doing. The Jewish leaders stirred up opposition and eventually expelled Paul and Barnabas from the area. At that point, Paul and Barnabas did something significant. They shook the dust off their feet and moved on to Iconium.
That action wasn't bitterness, arrogance, or defeat. It was wisdom.
Jesus had taught His disciples that if a city or house wouldn't receive them, they were to shake the dust off their feet and continue forward. In other words, they were not to waste endless time forcing themselves into places where God was clearly not opening hearts or doors. They were to recognize resistance, release disappointment, and keep moving toward those who were receptive.
That’s an important purpose principle because purpose requires discernment. You must learn where and with whom to invest your time, energy, gifts, and passion. Not every opportunity is your assignment. Not every audience is your audience. Not every relationship is meant to continue indefinitely.
Some people spend years trying to convince resistant people to value what God placed within them while ignoring the places where they're already being received and appreciated. Paul understood that purpose moves most effectively where there's openness, hunger, and response.
That doesn’t mean purpose is always easy or free from opposition. Paul certainly faced resistance almost everywhere he went. Yet there's a difference between healthy resistance that accompanies growth and complete rejection that signals it's time to move on. Paul learned how to recognize the difference.
One indicator of where God wants you to invest yourself is the presence of peace and progress. Again, that doesn’t mean everything will be comfortable or effortless. It means there’s evidence that your work is bearing fruit, doors are opening, relationships are forming, and momentum is developing. Even in difficult situations, there’s still a sense that God is at work.
I’ve learned this lesson repeatedly in my own life. At times, I have wished that a receptive audience to my message was closer to home, but God had other ideas. I have often had to go to faraway lands where the audiences greeted me with enthusiasm and received my message eagerly.
Once it took 36 hours for me to go to Zimbabwe after many frustrating delays. I said to the Lord, “God, do you know how many churches I just flew over to get here? Why couldn’t I have stopped at one of those churches instead of coming here?” And do you know what the Lord said? Nothing. Absolutely nothing! That’s because it’s a privilege to serve the Lord in my purpose no matter how far I have to go to do it.
This whole concept can be difficult because some of us want universal approval. We want everyone to understand us, support us, and celebrate our work. Yet Jesus Himself was rejected in some places. Paul was accepted at first, then rejected in some places. Why should we expect universal acceptance when they didn’t receive it?
Have you been exhausting yourself trying to gain acceptance in places where you are merely tolerated rather than received? Are you continuing to invest emotional energy into relationships, environments, or assignments where there's little evidence of peace, openness, or progress? Sometimes wisdom means moving on without anger or resentment.
Notice something else in Acts 13. After Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet and left, the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. That's remarkable because rejection didn't stop the work of God. Purpose continued moving forward even after opposition and expulsion. God is capable of continuing the work He started in a place without your presence.
That’s important for you to remember. Rejection isn’t always a dead end. Sometimes it’s redirection. God may use closed doors to move you toward places where your gifts, message, and calling will bear greater fruit.
Paul didn’t spend the rest of his ministry trying to convince one resistant city to change its mind. He kept moving toward opportunity, receptivity, and assignment. That’s one reason his ministry continued expanding throughout the Roman world.
Purpose requires both perseverance and discernment. Perseverance keeps you from quitting too soon. Discernment keeps you from staying too long where you’re no longer assigned. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is shake the dust off your feet and move forward with peace.
Your Turn
Where in your life do you sense peace, openness, and progress? Are there places or relationships where you may be forcing acceptance instead of recognizing that it may be time to move on?
What Would Paul Ask You?
Are you investing your energy where God is producing fruit, or are you exhausting yourself trying to win over resistant people?
Purpose Moment
Ask God for wisdom to recognize where He is opening doors and where He may be redirecting your efforts. Then ask Him for courage to move forward without bitterness when it is time to let go and continue on.