“A heart full of joy and goodness makes a cheerful face, But when a heart is full of sadness the spirit is crushed.” Proverbs 15:13 AMP

All of us have experienced rejection. It is an event that can be debilitating and paralyzing in our lives. Rejection hits us hardest in the area of our emotions. When things are going well and we feel accepted life is great. A “heart full of joy” can withstand just about any trial or time of testing. A broken spirit however can lead to destructive behaviors. Our society is undergoing a progressive breakdown of interpersonal relationships. It seems the most important thig to young people is to be accepted on social medica. We have too often seen the results of cyber bulling and rejection played out at the end of a gun. A wound of rejection can be a powerful controller of our lives. Many of us crawled inside a bottle or used a drug, or sex in trying to escape the reality of rejection. You may feel weary, harried, frustrated, perplexed, fearful, anxious or burdened down. The good news is that Jesus cares! As Jesus looked out over the city of Jerusalem filled with pain and suffering, we read this verse.

“Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages [in Galilee], teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news (gospel) of the kingdom and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness [His words and His works reflecting His Messiahship]. 36When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion and pity for them, because they were dispirited and distressed, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:35-36 AMP

I love this verse because it reminds me that trapped in my sin Jesus’ response is compassion not judgement! Look at His response, “He was moved with compassion and pity for them.” His response was one that drove Him to the cross so that the power of curses, rejection, and sin could bebroken and new life could emerge from the scorched ground! He has compassion for us and longs to heal the broken rejected heart. The good news from Jesus was that rejection can be changed to acceptance! Our sin was causing a rift between us and our creator. The work on the cross would take the suffering, sin, and rejection and turn it into restoration! The Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians,

“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Ephesians 1:6 KJV

Do you see it? We have moved from rejection to acceptance! When we come to God through Jesus Christ we are as accepted and highly favored as Christ Himself! It is truly amazing that God loves us in the same way He loves Jesus! If we can maintain our heavenly perspective, we will never be moved from a place of acceptance to rejection again. This world is filled with death and destruction and has nothing of eternal value to offer a child of God. Do not let the enemy drag you back to the chains of sin and self. Our value is in what God says about us not Facebook! Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken