REJECTED and ACCEPTED

REJECTED

There is a phrase that fit me well when I was about 25 years old, “She wore her feelings on her shirt-sleeves.”  When someone is said to “wear their feelings on their shirt-sleeves” it means that their feelings are so close to the surface that they become easily offended.  When you are offended you “feel” rejected.  Unless you turn to the Lord and seek to forgive the offender it will fester and cause you to draw back from the offender and others that you perceive will offend you.  I was always allowing my emotions to rule my responses.  Because of this I actually rejected others for fear that they would offend and/or reject me.

Do you find it hard to maintain friendships and relationships?  The fear of being rejected by others can be a strong cause of failed relationships.  Physiologists teach that if you have the fear of being rejected, you will reject others before they have the chance to reject you.  Fear does not come from God.  It is Satan’s tool.  He hates God and knowing that God loves you he will do any and every thing to hurt you thus ultimately hurting God. 

ACCEPTED

When you realize how fully deep and complete God’s acceptance of you is, you will see the fear of rejection ebb away as God takes pre-eminence in your life.  Where God is rejection cannot stay.

“Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a noble and lovable and generous benefactor someone might even dare to die.  But God shows and clearly proves His own love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ the Messiah, the Anointed One died for us…for if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more certain, now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (DAILY delivered from sin’s dominion) through His resurrection life.” –Romans 5:7-8, 10 AMP

He loves me!  What a marvelous realization that is.  How deep is that love?  He left all His power and authority behind when He left heaven – just for me!  He took on the same kind of life that I live right now, lived, died on the cross, and rose to life again to set me free from sin’s dominion.  He did it just for me!  He did it just for you too!!

Sin is like a stain, a blemish, a mark that shows you were once under condemnation. There is a wonderful song being played on Christian radio right now called “Flawless” by the group Mercy Me and it is a good example of just what God’s love and acceptance can do:

There's got to be more
Than going back and forth
From doing right to doing wrong
‘Cause we were taught that's who we are
Come on get in line right behind me
You along with everybody
Thinking there's worth in what you do

Then like a hero who takes the stage when
We're on the edge of our seats saying it's too late
Well let me introduce you to amazing grace

CHORUS

No matter the bumps
No matter the bruises
No matter the scars
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
No matter the hurt
Or how deep the wound is
No matter the pain
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless

Could it possibly be
That we simply can't believe
That this unconditional
Kind of love would be enough to
Take a filthy wretch like this
And wrap him up in righteousness
But that's exactly what He did

CHORUS

Take a breath smile and say
Right here right now I'm ok because
The cross was enough

Then like a hero who takes the stage when
We're on the edge of our seats saying it's too late
Well let me introduce you to grace, grace,
God's grace

CHORUS

No matter what they say
Or what you think you are
The day you called His name
He made you flawless

He made you flawless

“He exclaimed O my love, how beautiful you are!  There is no flaw in you!” –Song of Solomon 4:7 AMP

Let me rephrase my main point of acceptance; when you truly realize just how much God loves and accepts you then there is no room for rejection.  How does this play out in real life?  Now that I realize the full and deep love of God for me I find I no longer anticipate that someone will reject me so I do not reject them first like I used to, and when someone does reject me (which is very seldom) Jesus takes the pain of the rejection, reminding me that it is not me that is being rejected, but Him (Luke 10:16).

“Nevertheless I am continually with You; You do hold my right hand.  You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to honor and glory.  Whom have I in heaven but You?  And I have no delight or desire on earth besides You.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the Rock and firm Strength of my heart and my Portion forever.” –Psalm 73:23-26 AMP

“It is because of the Lord’s mercy and lovingkindness that we are not consumed, because His tender compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness.  The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.” –Lamentations 3:22-24 AMP