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A young physician went on a mission trip to serve in a medical clinic overseas. This was a poor country with limited access to healthcare.
The villagers shared the news with everyone about the team of doctors coming and the services they would be offering.
When the medical team arrived, they could see a line of people waiting for them. They would be there for 5 days and would treat as many as possible. They set to work.
During the first day, a lady approached the young doctor and told him about her father.
“He’s the one who needs care, not me. But he will not come.”
The doctor talked with the other physicians and decided they would visit his home that evening and offer their help.
When they finished the clinic for the day, they packed some tools and medicine and headed for the man’s house.
They were not greeted kindly. The man was angry with his daughter. He kept telling them he was fine and didn’t need their help. Their village “medicine man” was all he needed.
But the young physician could see the man needed their attention. He had a bad infection in his leg and needed antibiotics.
The man turned them away, and they left.
Day after day, the daughter returned, pleading with them to help her father. They tried sending medicine with her, but he refused it when they sent it.
On the last day of the clinic, the young doctor looked up and saw the daughter. She stood crying off to the side as she waited for them to pack their tools and supplies.
She told them how sick he was and that she didn’t think he would live. She had offered the medicine to him over and over, but he refused it. The young physician was heartbroken.
How can you save someone that doesn’t want help?
You can’t.
Acts 13:49-51
“And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.”
Paul and Barnabas had traveled many miles to share the news of Jesus. They preached the Gospel in the synagogue, but many of the Jews refused to hear the truth.
As they were thrown out of the city by the prominent Jews, the two missionaries did something that, to us, may not mean much. But to the Jews, they knew exactly what it meant.
They shook the dust off their feet and went on their way.
Jews would shake the dust off his feet when they left a Gentile town. It was symbolic to show they were cleansing themselves from those who did not worship God. To these men and women at Antioch in Pisidia, it meant that anyone who did not accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ was not part of God’s children, the true Israel, and they were no better than the Gentiles they despised.
Stop and think for a moment how Paul and Barnabas would have felt.
They had a mission. They wanted to share the truth with these people. They had compassion for them. These Jews were lost and needed the Savior, just as they had. These two men knew they had what these people needed in order to live.
But how can you save someone that doesn’t want help?
You can’t.
As instructed by Jesus (Mark 6:11), the two men shook the dust off their feet and moved on. In this new town, many received the Gospel and were saved.
When you know you have something that will change someone’s life, you want to share it. The Gospel is for everyone, but not everyone will receive it.
Share the truth. Tell them about Jesus. Show them who He is in love. Trust the Holy Spirit to work in their lives. And pray for them. We are a mouthpiece for the Lord. He is the one at work. If someone rejects God, keep praying for them.
If you’re interested in a medical mission trip, check out BMMI – http://bmamissions.org/bmmi/.
Picture credit to BMA Global in support of BMMI.
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