Dealing With Rejection

Articles

Derek Long
10/18/20 - Christian Living

Dealing With Rejection By Derek Long

Rejection is something many people fear. We often want people to want and appreciate us. Rejection is part of the life of a Christian though and we need to learn how to handle it appropriately. Here are some thoughts about rejection which have crossed my mind recently: • God has experienced countless instances of rejection. God was rejected by Adam and Eve when they instead decided to take of the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3). 1 Samuel 8:7 says, “And the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me; that I should not reign over them” (NKJV). Israel’s request to have a king was really a rejection of having God as their King. Isaiah 65:2 depicts for us in a heartbreaking fashion the rejection God received from His people. It says, “I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts” (NKJV). Whenever we are going through rejection, we can remember we serve a God who knows what it feels like to be rejected more times than we will be rejected. • Jesus was rejected. Isaiah 53:3 foretells the coming Messiah saying, “He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him” (NKJV). John 1:11 says, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (NKJV). Jesus was rejected by the very people God had been preparing to receive Him for centuries. Jesus was rejected by the people of His own nation, etc. Jesus knows what it is like to face the things we go through including rejection (Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:14-16). A note about the rejection of God or Jesus. When a person rejects God or Jesus, they are rejecting One who has done nothing to harm them. They are rejecting One who has always acted in their best interest. They are rejecting One who truly deserves to be received, honored, and praised. • The faithful of the Old Testament were oftentimes rejected. Amos was rejected by Amaziah. Amaziah told Amos, “Go, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah. There eat bread, and there prophesy. But never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is the royal residence” (NKJV). Elijah was referred to by Ahab as the troubler of Israel. When people reject us for practicing righteousness, they are simply treating us the way the faithful have been treated throughout time. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (NKJV). We should view it is a privilege to suffer for the cause of Christ (Philippians 1:27-30). • The faithful of the New Testament were rejected. Paul was at times rejected by those who at one time had been receptive to him and his teaching (Galatians 4:12-20). The book of Acts records for us several cases where early Christians were rejected by those who equally rejected our Lord. • Remember people will reject us for being righteous. 1 Peter 4:4, 12-16 says, “In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you … Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matter. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter” (NKJV). 1 John 4:5-6 says, “They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (NKJV). People will say bad things about us. People will not listen to us. Yet it is amazing to recognize how often the people who say bad things about the righteous also end up saying bad things about God. When people reject us for being righteous, let’s remember the follow verse. Psalm 27:10, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me” (NKJV).