READ – John 1:9-13 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
SOAP – John 1:11
Jesus Christ came as the true Light of the world. He came to this world, after creating it, to repel darkness and to deliver all from the bondage of sin. However, God’s master creation, the ones created in the very image of God, did not receive Him. Jesus’ name brought rejection and hatred. Believers must anticipate and expect rejection as a part of this earthly experience of sharing Christ in this dark world.
When rejection comes because of Christ, what is your response? When believers refuse to openly confess Jesus because of fear, when we refuse to honor Him in our personal conduct, when we refuse to align our own desires with His, our light becomes dimmer and dimmer.
Father God, You are the Light of the World and our source of love and hope. Lord, keep me from being a people-pleaser. Give me the strength to represent You without fear. Help me to persevere through any rejection or discomfort that unites and connects me with You. Thank You, Lord, for allowing me the honor to shine light in my sphere of influence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
No one likes being rejected, persecuted or being misunderstood. But the pain of those experiences will never outweigh the beauty of being a child of God. Through Christ we are saved and have new life. So, it doesn’t matter what the world does or says- cling to Jesus!!!