Day 30 – Dealing With Rejection
JOHN 15:18-25
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If 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. Remember 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. They will treat you this way because of My name, for they do not know the One who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father as well. If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both Me and My Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: “They hated Me without reason”
(John 15:18-25).
Being a leader is not always a popular position. Sometimes it is necessary to counter beliefs that are leading people down the wrong path. This often leads to rejection of that leader. The best example in history is this of Jesus. The ones He came to help demanded His crucifixion.
Reflection
- Have you ever had to stand for an unpopular belief?
- How does it feel to be rejected?
- What do you think is the cause of hatred?
NEHEMIAH 2:15-20
So I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.
Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me.
They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.
But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us.“What is this you are doing?”
they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”
I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We His servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it” (Nehemiah 2:15-20).
Often times a leader has to look into situations that require a new approach and a strong hand. Nehemiah didn’t even tell his Hebrew compatriots that he was going to inspect the broken walls. Ironically, the leader of many had to spend time alone to hear from God and assess his situation. Nehemiah knew the ways of his enemies.
Reflection
- What is the advantage of discovering things for yourself?
- Are you often surprised when you encounter resistance?
