You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. 1 Peter 2:4 (NLT)
No one is exempt from disappointment and feelings of rejection. People rejected Jesus, so we are in good company when we are rejected. The root of rejection is broken relationships. Encountering rejection at an early age lays the foundation for mistrust which often leads to additional broken relationships.
A person who has experienced rejection has lower expectations of finding contentment and happiness. Counselors have spent innumerable hours in an effort to help those who have been rejected.
As much as we would desire to think that once we have come to Christ, rejection will be a thing of the past, we must come to grips with the fact that rejection will always be a part of living. If Jesus was rejected, we should have the same expectation.
Rejection is inevitable, or in other words: Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there’s no getting around it. 2 Timothy 3:12 (MSG). The question that confronts us is how do we avoid the paralysis that can occur leading to dejection?
Harmful Rejection
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him. Isaiah 53:3 (CSB)
Jesus was not the first person to be rejected by men. Rejection and discrimination have been with us since the beginning of time. People are rejected because of their differences, their afflictions, and any number of other reasons.
When a child is rejected by family, or even friends, it can have a detrimental impact on their life. Rejection results in hopelessness, despair, causing emotional and spiritual damage. When a father rejects a child, it can often set roadblocks that are difficult to overcome.
Harmful rejection leads to dejection. The dictionary defines dejection as the feeling of being unhappy, disappointed, or without hope. This defines the condition of much of humanity, especially before coming to Christ:
In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. Ephesians 2:12 (NLT)
Harmful rejection is destructive to body, soul, and spirit. Those who have been rejected by family, and others who should be close to them, often find it challenging to receive a message of hope through Jesus Christ. We do not want to be responsible for “causing one of God’s little ones to stumble.” There are severe consequences for those who do.
Rejoice in Rejection
“You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11–12 (CSB)
Not all rejection is a cause for dejection. Jesus told us that he must be rejected: But first it is necessary that he suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. Luke 17:25 (CSB). Rejection defines and separates:
If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. John 15:19 (CSB)
To honestly rejoice in rejection, we must have a perspective that is different from those around us. We must believe in someone, something, and somewhere beyond our present circumstances. It is the hope that comes from God that will sustain us when the world rejects us.
Jesus did not hide things from his followers: I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” John 16:33 (CSB). Jesus has a different definition of peace and prosperity.
We can rejoice in rejection when we do not store up treasures on earth, but in heaven. We must see things differently: For you sympathized with the prisoners and accepted with joy the confiscation of your possessions, because you know that you yourselves have a better and enduring possession. Hebrews 10:34 (CSB)
The world may reject us. In fact, we should hope that they do because being a friend of the world, makes us the enemy of God.
Overcoming
They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11 (MEV)
There is a reward for those who overcome. The world may reject us, but remember they first rejected Jesus. The apostles rejoiced when they were rejected and were counted worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.
If your faith remains strong, even while surrounded by life’s difficulties, you will continue to experience the untold blessings of God! True happiness comes as you pass the test with faith, and receive the victorious crown of life promised to every lover of God! James 1:12 (TPT)
Rejection will come, but as long as we have our hope fixed on Jesus, we will not be dejected. We will not be hopeless, because Jesus is our hope.
Steve Ekeroth