Since giving my life to the Lord, I have really struggled with sharing my faith with others. I thought that once I accepted Him as the way, the truth, and the life that I would explode with love for others and the dire need for them to know Jesus so that they can be saved. But that didn’t happen. If I truly love the Lord then why do I struggle so badly at spreading this great news? The answer is simple, rejection.
We live in a world that is all about being accepted. We want everyone to like us so we get the newest car, the nicest clothes, the freshest kicks, etc. We do everything we can to fit in so that we won’t be rejected because the world teaches us that it’s a bad thing. Right? Well, the bible tells us otherwise. As followers of Jesus Christ we are constantly trying to live our lives like Jesus and He was almost never accepted.
In Luke 4:14-29, Jesus was at the synagogue in His hometown, Nazareth, and read a passage from Isaiah. After doing so, He told them that this passage about a coming Messiah was about Him. In verse 28, it says, “All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.” Not just some of the people, but ALL the people rejected Him. How would you respond if everyone that you knew growing up rejected you? Well Jesus didn’t stop there. He went on His way to tell more people that He is the Messiah and the only true way to be saved from eternal damnation.
If you want to live your life the way we are called to, you must not be afraid of rejection, but embrace it. Instead, you must fear acceptance. If everyone accepts you, you are not living your life according to Gods will. In Luke 6:26 Jesus says, “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.” If everyone speaks well of you then you are doing something wrong and are just like the false prophets. 2 Timothy 3:12 says, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus WILL be persecuted.” It doesn’t say might be persecuted, you WILL be persecuted. If you are not being rejected and persecuted then you need to reevaluate the way you are living your life because its not the way God intended.
In John 15:18-19 Jesus tells us, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” Do you belong to the world? Or does the world reject you and hate you for your beliefs?
In fact, in Matthew 5:10-12 Jesus tells us that if you are rejected then you will be rewarded. “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Instead of getting down on yourself when someone rejects you, the Lord says rejoice because you will be rewarded in heaven for your faithfulness.
The truth is, we have no control over who will accept the good news of the gospel, thats the Holy Spirit’s job to convict their hearts. All we can do is be faithful to our God and get the word out there. He will do the rest. My question for you is this. Are you willing to be rejected for the one who sent His son to die for what is deservedly ours? I am.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
“When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony of God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.”
