Rejection

Yesterday I talked about persecution and how we can expect it and be ready for it as we get ready for the Lord’s return.  In this process we need to be prepared for more rejection as time goes on.  I want to concentrate on Matthew 10:32-42 today which says this, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

Jesus said this in verse 34, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.”

What we need to understand here is that Jesus knew that not everyone would receive Him, but many would reject Him.  And many of these that would reject Him would be members of one’s family.  For those that receive Him as their Lord and Savior there is perfect peace and continuous joy.  That doesn’t mean we won’t go through trials and tribulations, we will, but we can still have that peace and joy through all of them.  We should be committed to love our family but not put them before the Lord. Nothing in our lives can become more important than the Lord because anything you think more highly of than the Lord is an idol, we should not let that take place in our lives.

As far as denying the Lord, how many couples that truly love each other deny the fact that they are married to each other, if they are asked?  Well think of this, if you are a born-again believer you are the bride of Christ, should you deny that fact?  No!  Would the Lord deny you?  Of course not, but like your spouse, if you are ashamed of them and reject them you will end up being rejected also.  In the same way, if you reject and are ashamed of the Lord before men, He will deny you before His Father and I don’t think any of His people would want that to happen.  

Anyone that has been taught that following the Lord is going to be easy has been taught the wrong thing.  Taking up your cross and denying yourself and following the Lord can be very difficult, but very rewarding also.  Many have not only been asked to deny themselves but to also be martyred for the kingdom.  Following Jesus involves tension, persecution and even death in many cases.  But regardless of what we are asked to do, we know that the Lord will be with us and provide whatever we need at the time, so that we will be victorious in and through it.

The Word says this in Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.”’ With this promise we need not fear.  The Word also says this in Romans 8:31, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

If we are in Jesus, we are in good hands, praise the Lord!  Something to think about!  Have a super day and may the Lord bless you and yours.