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Rejects

    Everybody wants to be loved. We were all created with that innate desire for love. It was designed to stem from our creator. He loves us, we love Him, and that love spills out onto all of His people. Sadly, when we do not understand that process, we search our whole life for love. Our flesh tells us to search for that love in each other and not from our creator. From that place of searching comes distress when we do not receive that love. It is a painful process to be rejected.

1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us. (ESV)

    That all being said, we do not always seek the right kind of love from Jesus and His people. We want everyone to like us. However, we are told that when you are a true friend of God you will be rejected by the world. Ouch. Considering that we are surrounded by the world, this truth stings a bit. When we have the desire to be loved mixed with the compassion for sinners we are meant to have, it can prove very difficult to handle rejection.

John 15:18-21"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you:‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me" (ESV)

    I am not saying that we will always be rejected. Jesus said that He will draw all people to Himself, and He lives through us! But the truth of Jesus Christ shines a light on the dark places that many people do not want exposed. They will do anything to avoid His light, including avoiding you.

John 12:32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. (NIV)

John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (ESV)

John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (ESV)

    But take heart! When we are rejected for living a godly life we are blessed for it. There is no higher compliment than to be pushed away for living in the light of Christ. It doesn't always feel that way, but I assure you it is. When we face considerable opposition from Satan it means we are doing something right! Remember today that if you are being pushed away for following Jesus the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. What could be better?

John 16:33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (NIV)
1 Peter 4:14 If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. (HCSB)

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