This Day's Verse


Jeremiah 10:7Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Choose LOVE!

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal.

Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.”
C.S. Lewis

Who hasn't, at one time or another, put themselves out there only to find a much different reaction than one might have hoped for their effort? Scientists have conducted actual studies which prove rejection causes true feelings of pain. Did we really even need a study to corroborate that?

I started a new blog. Tentativley,(putting myself out there), I invited a few people to check it out. I hoped they'd come.
I said to myself that I wouldn't get hurt feelings if no one showed up. So, why did I trepidatiously look this morning to see if anyone came by?

Because... I didn't want to be rejected. What if NO ONE had showed up? What if those who did thought it wasn't that great. I would be embarrassed that I put it out there.

It was kinda silly to worry whether someone would read or like my blog. It's just a blog. Who has time to read another blog, anyway? I know that I will find an audience for the subject. Besides, I did have some people take me up on the invitation! I even got my first follower! Thanks, JEN! And comments! Thanks, Terri! Thanks, Junnia!

All my negative brain activity wasn't totally wasted because it did make me ponder. Rejection is miserable. It hurts. It is proven (scientifially, even). But, I remembered that I, with all my insecurities, misgivings, shortcomings, and very unadvanced blog to show off, who willingly and maybe regrettably exposed some of my own nerves,I cannot even hold a candle to the rejection Christ receives.

People wake up every single day and make a conscious choice to ignore Someone who is so gentlemanly He patiently waits, hoping we will accept what He so generously offered. If you are a Christian, others often shy away from you. Of course, it isn't you they reject.

Jesus, said, in Luke 10:16, He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me;

I would say that it is possible that Jesus might have, in the flesh, felt a little vulnerable as he put a True Example of Love up on the cross. Beaten, naked, thirsty, exposed. He gave His all for us. Yet, He is all Powerful, Omniscient, Omnipotent, the King of Kings, and He is EVERYTHING.

Still, He puts Himself out there to us. Inviting us to speak to Him. Offering to guide us in a perfect path. He wants to fill us with His Spirit. He says He will Heal us. He truly desires to bless us.


Who then, would EVER reject HIM?

People do.

People are living and breathing and making choices whether or not they "want" Him. He gets rejected time and time again. Over, and over.

He doesn't give up on us if we disappoint or disobey His Word. There is no silent treatment from Him. When we call, He answers.

There is no disfellowship from Him if we don't meet His expectations. He knows we are not perfect. He says, My yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Rejection not only hurts, it can leave you feeling very angry. Even bitter. He does not cuss or swear at us. No, He tenderly calls us by our name. Then, He is often ignored. Still, no scoffing, no scorning, no avoidance.

Who would refuse the only ONE we can put ourselves out there to completely, with absolutely no fear of the pain of rejection. The opposite of rejection is comfort. He is the Comforter.

He says in His Word, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. (Isaiah 41:9)

I'm comfortable with choosing to love Jesus. I hope you are, too.

2 comments:

  1. So glad that Jesus has chosen me. Even when I ignored Him in the past, He never gave up on me!

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  2. When I fully committed to Jesus to give Him my whole life, and I got in church, there was a hymn(did I just age myself) called "He Was There All the Time" that we used to sing quite a bit. O I would weep at its words because they rang so true!!

    "He Was There All The Time" lyrics:
    Time after time,
    I went searching for peace in some void.
    I was trying to blame
    All my ills on this world I was in.
    Surface relationships, used me 'til I was done in.
    And all of the while someone was begging
    To free me from sin

    (chorus)
    He was there all the time
    He was there all the time
    Waiting patiently in line
    He was there all the time

    Never again
    Will I look for a fake rainbow's end.
    Now that I have the answer
    My life is just starting to rhyme.
    Sharing each new day with Him
    Is a cup of fresh wine.
    And oh what I missed
    He's been waiting right there all the time.

    It still amazes me that I was filled with the Holy Ghost at the age of 12 and then backslid. I chose to keep my friends (for lack of a better word even though that word really doesn't fit). I got back in church when I was 17. I can honestly say that nothing in that 5 years was worth giving up JESUS! He waited for me. It overwhelms me. Every day. He is a sweet God! :)

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