Rejection

Today what my Pastor said in his sermon really touched me and I would like to share some of it with you, even though I won't be able to say it just like he did... and it probably won't even make sense the way I say it! :)

It was on Matthew, and focused on these two main points: Through out the book.. 1. Jesus was increasingly rejected by man, and 2. He was increasingly accepted by God.

He was rejected from the time of his birth, when Herod tried to kill him, to His death when he was killed on the cross even though he had committed no sin. Yet, as you go on through the book, God is continually finding favor with him. When we are living to please God, we will be rejected by the world.

It reminds me of part of a chapter in John my little sister knows and loves reading for us.

¹⁸"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. ¹⁹If 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. ²⁰Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ²¹They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. -John 15:18-21

The feeling of being rejected is something that I have been struggling with, and gave me much pain. But God reminded me of this today:

When you are follow in the path of the King, and living to please Him, even when it feels like everyone has rejected you, remember God loves you and has not rejected you.