REPOST FROM SEPTEMBER 28, 2026

 Mary Lynne Webb

September 29 at 11:07 AM

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Have you ever been in a situation where you didn’t know what to do? You prayed. You read scripture. You sought wise counsel. The answers seemed to be conflicting. You were still confused. Do we continue to speak boldly when someone takes scripture out of context to support their own agenda? Should we have an attitude like the song, “Dare to be a Daniel.” Stand firm. Speak with conviction based on scripture, not politics or feelings. Be brave and bold. 

Let God use us for His purposes. 

https://youtu.be/My9rYr8xzng?si=gSRPwOOSUxRV5YtR

The Old Testament is full of accounts of prophets who spoke God’s words boldly, even when they felt like no one was listening. You and I are not prophets in the same sense, so I’m not making that comparison. They had a new message, a message that repeated what God had already said, a message of destruction that would follow if there was no repentance. We have scripture. Everything we need to know is revealed in scripture and through God’s Spirit working in us as we study scripture. That’s enough. Scripture is available to everyone who determines in his/her heart to seek God’s will and purpose.  Nobody needs my words or yours to understand scripture. Yet, scripture tells us to be bold, unashamed, powerful as we share the message of Christ Jesus. Paul asked the people to pray for him that he would speak the message of Christ boldly.

Ephesians 6:18-20

 Amplified Bible

18 With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all [a]God’s people. 19 And pray for me, that words may be given to me when I open my mouth, to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news [of salvation], 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. And pray that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly and courageously, as I should.

Colossians 4:2-6

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2 Be persistent and devoted to prayer, being alert and focused in your prayer life with an attitude of thanksgiving. 3 At the same time pray for us, too, that God will open a door [of opportunity] to us for the word, to proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I have been imprisoned; 4 that I may make it clear [and speak boldly and unfold the mystery] in the way I should.

5 Conduct yourself with wisdom in your interactions with outsiders (non-believers), make the most of each opportunity [treating it as something precious]. 6 Let your speech at all times be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to answer each one [who questions you].

We are taught to have discernment and avoid deception. Sometimes deception is easy to see. Sometimes it is veiled, quotes scripture, but not the whole of scripture. For example, scripture clearly says that we are to love one another. How do we do that?

Romans 12:9-12

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9 Love is to be sincere and active [the real thing—without guile and hypocrisy]. Hate what is evil [detest all ungodliness, do not tolerate wickedness]; hold on tightly to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another with [authentic] brotherly affection [as members of one family], give preference to one another in honor; 11 never lagging behind in diligence; aglow in the Spirit, enthusiastically serving the Lord; 12 constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength],

Love means honoring others above ourselves, being diligent, being filled with the Spirit, serving the Lord with enthusiasm, praying, and being steadfast in all circumstances. It does not mean tolerating evil. Loving others means hating evil. Love is not the same thing as tolerance. Using love to tolerate sin is not scriptural. 

We should not let others deceive us with empty arguments, even those that use scriptures out of context. 

Ephesians 5:6-17

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6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments [that encourage you to sin], for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience [those who habitually sin]. 7 So do not participate or even associate with them [in the rebelliousness of sin]. 8 For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [live as those who are native-born to the Light] 9 (for the fruit [the effect, the result] of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn [by experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [and letting your lifestyles be examples of what is most acceptable to Him—your behavior expressing gratitude to God for your salvation]. 11 Do not participate in the worthless and unproductive deeds of darkness, but instead expose them [by exemplifying personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character]; 12 for it is disgraceful even to mention the things that such people practice in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light [of God’s precepts], for [a]it is light that makes everything visible. 14 For this reason He says,

“Awake, sleeper,

And arise from the dead,

And Christ will shine [as dawn] upon you and give you light.”

15 Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people], 16 [b]making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish and thoughtless, but understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is.

When someone has stood firm on scripture, it’s easy to feel like no one else is being faithful because they aren't speaking up. Just one voice seems so small. Elijah felt that way. 

1 Kings 19:10

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10 He said, “I have been very [a]zealous (impassioned) for the Lord God of hosts (armies) [proclaiming what is rightfully and uniquely His]; for the sons of Israel have abandoned (broken) Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I, only I, am left; and they seek to take away my life.”

1 Kings 19:14

 Amplified Bible

14 He said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts (armies), because the sons of Israel have abandoned (broken) Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I, only I, am left; and they seek to take away my life.”

But Elijah was not alone. He was not the only one. When we start to feel discouraged, we should remember that there are others who want to stand on the whole of what scripture teaches us. God encouraged Elijah with these words.

1 Kings 19:18

 Amplified Bible

18 Yet I will leave 7,000 [survivors] in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed down to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

All these passages point to being bold, steadfast, courageous, enduring rejection, holding fast to the truth. Does scripture say anything different in other passages? Look at what Jesus told His disciples when He sent them out.

Matthew 10:14

 Amplified Bible

14 Whoever does not welcome you, nor listen to your message, as you leave that house or city, [a]shake the dust [of it] off your feet [in contempt, breaking all ties].

Mark 6:11

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11 Any place that does not welcome you or listen to you, when you leave there, [a]shake the dust off the soles of your feet as a testimony against them [breaking all ties with them because they rejected My message].”

Luke 9:5

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5 And as for all those who do not welcome you, when you leave that city, shake the dust off your feet [breaking all ties with them] as a testimony against them [that they rejected My message].”

Luke 10:11

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11 ‘Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you [breaking all ties]; yet understand this, that the kingdom of God has come near [and you rejected it].’

Jesus put the same thought in different words.

Matthew 7:6

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6 “Do not give that which is holy to [a]dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, for they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Paul spoke boldly, but when the people were deceived, stirred up, and incited, Paul and Barnabas shook the dust from their feet as they left.

Acts 13:44-52

Amplified Bible

44 On the next Sabbath almost the entire [a]city gathered together to hear the word of the Lord [about salvation through faith in Christ]. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things said by Paul, and were slandering him. 46 And [at the same time] Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and confidently, saying, “It was necessary that God’s message [of salvation through faith in Christ] be spoken to you [Jews] first. Since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, now we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For that is what the Lord has commanded us, saying,

‘I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles,

So that You may bring [the message of eternal] salvation to the end of the earth.’”

48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying [praising and giving thanks for] the word of the Lord; and all those who had been appointed (designated, ordained) to eternal life [by God] believed [in Jesus as the Christ and their Savior]. 49 And so the word of the Lord [regarding salvation] was being spread through the entire region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout, prominent women and the leading men of the city, and instigated persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them forcibly out of their district. 51 But [b]they shook its dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were continually filled [throughout their hearts and souls] with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

When you are in this position, when you have been speaking boldly and trying to share the whole of scripture, not just the parts that support a personal agenda, it is easy to be discouraged. How long does God expect us to keep trying? When does He tell us to shake the dust from our feet? When should we stop throwing pearls to the swine? 

I don’t know. I just do not know. The answer is to keep praying that God will lead us according to His purposes and that we will be obedient to Him.