"Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious...." (1 Peter 2:4)
The call of Father to people who feel rejected is to come to Jesus, "rejected indeed by men...."------ by family, by most of His fellow countrymen, the Roman Government. His rejection then and now goes far beyond any rejection which you and I may have or will encountered over our lifetime. There is, therefore, just no one to you and me as Jesus. As the hymn says, "There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus, no, not one, no, not one." So come, "to Him as to a living stone," and we come to Life Himself.
"But chosen by God and precious...." We should take great comfort today in knowing that the One Whom we have chosen, the One Who has chosen us, called us, the One Who saves us, is,"chosen by God and precious....." And, if Jesus is, "chosen by Father God and precious," what should He be to us, to humanity?------ "chosen...and precious."
The world does not choose us because it does not choose Jesus. Of course I may have things about me which would cause anyone to reject me, personal stuff, personality, well, the list could go on and on. But we must never forget that the foundational reason for the world's rejection of those who, "follow the Lamb[, King Jesus,] wherever He goes," is Jesus Christ Himself, living and reigning in us.
We do not grow weary in rejection. It is nothing, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory...." Now it may not seem to be an encouraging "word" to accept rejection. But to encourage us to "Abide in [Jesus Christ],..rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious"---- is.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I embrace rejection if it means being in Him Who is, "chosen by [You] and precious." Amen.
****************************
We would appreciate it if you would pray for our Berlin/Jerusalem Mission this coming October 26-November 26.
The call of Father to people who feel rejected is to come to Jesus, "rejected indeed by men...."------ by family, by most of His fellow countrymen, the Roman Government. His rejection then and now goes far beyond any rejection which you and I may have or will encountered over our lifetime. There is, therefore, just no one to you and me as Jesus. As the hymn says, "There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus, no, not one, no, not one." So come, "to Him as to a living stone," and we come to Life Himself.
"But chosen by God and precious...." We should take great comfort today in knowing that the One Whom we have chosen, the One Who has chosen us, called us, the One Who saves us, is,"chosen by God and precious....." And, if Jesus is, "chosen by Father God and precious," what should He be to us, to humanity?------ "chosen...and precious."
The world does not choose us because it does not choose Jesus. Of course I may have things about me which would cause anyone to reject me, personal stuff, personality, well, the list could go on and on. But we must never forget that the foundational reason for the world's rejection of those who, "follow the Lamb[, King Jesus,] wherever He goes," is Jesus Christ Himself, living and reigning in us.
We do not grow weary in rejection. It is nothing, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory...." Now it may not seem to be an encouraging "word" to accept rejection. But to encourage us to "Abide in [Jesus Christ],..rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious"---- is.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I embrace rejection if it means being in Him Who is, "chosen by [You] and precious." Amen.
****************************
We would appreciate it if you would pray for our Berlin/Jerusalem Mission this coming October 26-November 26.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
