Judging fruit when it is people is burdensome and tiresome. I’m not complaining but it is the most challenging part of being a minister of the Gospel. A soldier doesn’t quit when it gets hard.

It’s easy to share good news and “let your light shine” when everyone’s receptive and accepting the Truth. But sometimes the minister or the Elders will judge someone not receptive. This is hard work. Jesus said to His disciples who went town to town preaching the Gospel, “If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace” (Mt 10:13). The preacher is instructed to judge the “worthiness” of the house. Sure, ultimately God is the judge but He’s put some responsibility in our hands to spread the Gospel. We are expected to determine who is receptive and who is not.

“Taking back” your blessing is equally important. Deciding it’s time to leave and “shake the dust from your feet” is very hard. Deciding who is “swine” and not “cast your pearls” before them is so very hard. But these decisions must be made.

“Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them” (Rom. 16:17).

I think there are many who have quit the work of the Lord because it’s so hard to “turn away” from those who cause troubles. They call it “burnout” but they are just tired of the fight. Sometimes it’s just fear. There are many who are afraid and so they don’t “take back” anything. It’s hard but don’t quit because it was harder the Lord, Jesus.

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