Have you ever been rejected?
As much as we hate to ponder on the low points of life, I am sure in some way, we all have answered ‘yes’ to this question. Whether it’s from a job interview, college admission, a competitive endeavor or in a relational pursuit, we have all faced rejection at some point in our life. If you haven’t yet, well keep living. The feeling that lingers can sometimes leave us extremely hesitant to pursue something again. It can create a fear in us that causes us to doubt our abilities, our talents, ourselves.
The same concept can be applied spiritually. Sharing our faith is often one of the most frightening things that Christ commands us to do as followers of Him. Even when we’ve got a game plan of which verses might be the most appropriate when sharing the Gospel, we are still hesitant because of the fear of rejection. We worry about the response of non-believers and soon began justifying disobedience to God.
What if they don’t listen?
What if they don’t understand?
What if they reject my truth?
The fear resonating within us generates these questions and prevent us from walking in obedience to the Lord. The Lord sent Ezekiel to the sons of Israel because of their rebellion against God. In Ezekiel 2:7, God commands Ezekiel to speak His words, whether they listen or not. One important thing for us to remember is that the messages are from the Lord. His Word, His truth, and the Gospel are HIS words. We are just the tools that God is using to deliver the message.
“But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.” Ezekiel 2:7
We must also remember that in John 15, Jesus warns us that the world will hate us, persecute us, and reject us because the world hated Christ first. However, this is not an excuse to prevent us from fulfilling the Great Commission. This is assurance that we are not less of a person if someone rejects our faith. We can rest in the fact that God receives the glory from us choosing to walk in obedience to Him instead of giving into our fears.
God has not given us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). Therefore, we need not be ashamed of our testimony. We are living witnesses of the power of the Gospel and the love and grace revealed in this truth that stems from the God we serve. Let us act in obedience and not in fear, whether they listen or not.
