WEDNESDAY January 16, 2019
How to Handle Rejection
But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.”
1 Samuel 8:6-7
God’s people asked Samuel for a king to rule over them. Instead of a theocracy, they chose to have a monarchy. God wanted to reign over them, but the people wanted a king. They would rather be in bondage than to be free––sad. This was not the perfect will of God. The people had taken the permissive will of God, and not His perfect will.
Samuel took the people’s rejection personally and became completely offended. He prayed to the Lord and took his complaint to God, who gave him the true reason for their ungodly behavior. The people had not rejected Samuel; they had rejected God. Notice, Samuel did not go to anyone else with his problem; he sought the Lord. God gave him the answer and corrected Samuel’s focus.
When people reject us, we become offended––that is our human nature––but too often we find another person to talk to. That is how gossip begins and how people can become divided. When we are offended, we must not infect the ears of other people. Instead, follow Samuel’s example and take the situation to the Lord. Seek Him in prayer, and He will give you a new perspective on the situation.
Sometimes we forget our God is the King of kings. Many times people are not rejecting you––they are rejecting Christ. They do not want Him to rule over their lives.
The only sin God cannot forgive is the sin of rejecting Christ––turn to Him in repentance and faith––and He will forgive.
~Billy Graham~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!