Rejected but not Dejected

"When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with WRATH. And they rose up and drove Him [Jesus] out of the town and brought Him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could THROW Him down the CLIFF. But passing through their midst, He went away." (Luke 4:28-30)

* * *

This was Jesus' hometown of Nazareth. These people were His friends, people He grew up with, people He knew well, people who knew Him and His parents. And they rejected Him to the point of wanting to throw Him off a cliff. It was an event that no doubt stung our Lord to His very core, however, what probably saddened Jesus most was that in rejecting Him, they rejected the Word of God. They rejected their own salvation, salvation that He died for.

We're different. If we had undergone a similar experience in our own hometowns, no doubt we'd be less concerned for the salvation of our brothers, and more concerned with our own hurt feelings and sense of injustice. 

When we say that Jesus died for our sins, we don’t just mean that He died for all the bad things that we do, have done, or think about doing. He did, but He also died for all the bad things that have been (and will be) done to us. He’s felt all our pain, physical and emotional, because all are a result of a world wrought with sin. Nothing here is as it ought to be, including the selfish feelings that come from being wronged.

One of the most difficult things about being a Christian is living in the now but not yet. Jesus already died and rose, but He has yet to return. And so, we continue to live in a sinful world and be sinful people. But He has not left us here empty handed to flounder, weak and unprotected. We have Emmanuel, God with us, in many ways, and best of all, we have the Promise of God, the promise of everlasting life, and yes, even the vengeance that is His.

When you have been sinned against and are lying in bed at night unable to sleep for thinking of it, think instead of the good God has given you, and remember that He promised to take all the bad away. Forgive as you have been forgiven (Matthew 6:12). Be angry but do not sin (Ephesians 4:16). Trust that God will get you through everything, no matter how daunting it may appear o you (Psalm 56:4). Jesus has already wept for you, and soon, He will fight for you (John 11:35).

Suggested verse to repeat is from Psalm 56:4.

PRC buddies, remember to breathe!

"In God I trust. -------> 5 count inhale

What can flesh do to me?" -------> 5 count exhale