Don't Let People Mess You Up
Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart. John 2:23-25 (New Living Translation, NLT)
Jesus was cautious around people and really did not too many people get too close because he understood how people can be. There’s an old Larry Norman song and some of the lyrics go like this:
Some folks smile and they seem all right. Later you find they were an angel of light. Try to love everybody but don’t be blind. Those kind of people mess up your mind. You got to watch who you know and you got to watch what you’re doing.
It is good to love and reach out and help people. However, when they frequently hurt you, abuse or disrespect you or won’t listen to you, then it is time to shake the dust off your feet and move on.
If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. Matthew 10:14 (New Living Translation, NLT)
God considers you too valuable and valued to be messed up by people and their bad attitudes, bad choices, and immaturity. Move on. Go on with life. Some people have no place going with you where God is taking you. Love, pray, and speak good over them, but go and live your life, happy and free.
If others understand you and why you are doing what you’re doing, then fine. If not, fine. Don’t be moved by how people treat you or what they think and say about you. The thing that counts is what God thinks and says about you. He has too much invested in you for you to be depressed and downtrodden because of someone else’s mistreatment of you. It’s time to be who God made you to be. It’s time to do what God created you to do. It’s time to go where God is sending you. You don’t have time to mess around with wrong people who want to steal your time and energy. Distance yourself from people who always bring drama. Find people who will receive from you and will celebrate you rather than just tolerate you.
To put it plainly, let go of wrong people so you can press on. Allow God to hook you up with the right people. God has people for you, but the devil also has people for you. Pay attention. Listen to and follow God, and watch Him connect you with those He has for you.
Relationships are to be mutually beneficial and to make us better, not bitter. Surround yourself with those who make you sharper, not duller. Relationships can make or break us, so let God lead you away from wrong ones and into right ones. As your relationships go, so goes your life. As you follow God, He will lead you to the right people. When your relationships are established by God, your life will be blessed.
