REJECTION

KEY: Our confidence in our relationship with Christ will dramatically affect how we cope with rejection.

Mat 21:42, Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures, 'THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone; THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES'?

Psa 118:22-23, The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. (23) This is the LORD'S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.

NOTE: The stone is Israel's king, whom the invading nations thought they could conquer but to whom God gave victory, making him the chief corner stone. Christ applied these words to His own rejection.

The worker who receives a pink slip, the salesman who can't get past the secretary, the builder whose bid is denied all have something in common - rejection.

Depending on our response, rejection can be either a devastating experience or a step to spiritual maturity. It can either take the wind our of our sails or steer us into a better understanding of our true identity in Jesus Christ. Learning how to handle rejection is essential if we are to consistently experience the joy and peace of Christ.

Despite His sinlessness and perfect life, Jesus was often rejected by His brethren. Though He healed, delivered, and taught transforming truth, the Jews turned against Him, seeking to kill Him and stop his witness. Amazingly, however, Jesus continued steadfastly on His ministry, never sulking or despondent over His people's repudiation of His ministry. His remarkable life demonstrates some important principles, which we may apply in dealing with rejection.

That there was no room in the inn was symbolic of what was to happen to Jesus. The only place there was room for Him, was on a cross. He sought an entry to the over-crowded hearts of men; He could not find it, and still His search and His rejection go on.

We Are Heirs with Christ

Most importantly, Jesus was secure in the knowledge of who He was the His relationship with the Father. Some people thought Jesus was a prophet, some Elijah, some a devil, some merely a carpenter, some just the son of Joseph and Mary. Christ confronted such ignorance with continual proclamation of His diety.

John 16:28, "I came forth from the Father, and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again, and going to the Father."

Likewise, our confidence in our relationship with Christ will dramatically affect how we cope with rejection.

We are eternally forgiven

Heb 10:16-22, "THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND UPON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM," He then says, (17) "AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE." (18) Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin. (19) Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, (20) by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, (21) and since we have a great priest over the house of God, (22) let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

We are loved

Rom 8:18, For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Rom 8:31-39, What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? (32) He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? (33) Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; (34) who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. (35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) Just as it is written, "FOR THY SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED." (37) But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. (38) For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, (39) nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We are accepted and complete in Christ

Col 2:6-10, As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, (7) having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. (8) See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. (9) For in Him all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form, (10) and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;

Satan will try to deceive you by using people to convince you he has something you need - that you are not complete in Christ. They say you need:

James 4:11-12, Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother, or judges his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge of it. (12) There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?

He is our life.

John 14:6, Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.

We are heirs with Him, His children, never again to be separated from His presence and power. Others may reject our performance or behavior, but they cannot annul any of our privileges or blessings as believers. That is untouchable.

Focus on Doing God's will

Additionally, Christ's mind was never set on appeasing the whims people but on doing the will of the Father. He didn't seek the praise of those around Him; rather, He sought to please the Father. That must be our focus when we are rejected by others. We seek to be approved by God, not by other men and women.

2 Cor 10:12-18, For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding....(18) For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

Our main aim is to be pleasing to Him. With that in mind, rejection becomes an opportunity to become conformed to His image. We are not here to obtain the acclaim of the crowd, but to take on the very character of Christ in all we do or say. Then rejection can be a spiritual catalyst in accomplishing that objective.

God fills all our needs

Finally, Christ rose above rejection because He knew the Father had provided Him with all He would ever need.

John 13:3, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God, and was going back to God,

That same serenity is ours when we understand that we are indeed "complete in Christ." We don't need the favor of others, their approval, or their praise. We have Christ in us and with us. That is enough. We rest in the sufficiency of our Savior, content that all we will ever need is amply supplied in our relationship with Christ.

Mat 5:44, "But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you

Do all in the Name of Christ

Col 3:1-17, If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (2) Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (3) For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (4) When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. (5) Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. (6) For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come, (7) and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. (8) But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. (9) Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, (10) and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him (11) --a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. (12) And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; (13) bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. (14) And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. (15) And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. (16) Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (17) And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

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