Question 1

How does God respond to me when I feel rejected?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 27:10Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.Psalm 94:14The Lord will not reject his people; he will not abandon his special possession.Isaiah 49:15-16“Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I [the Lord] would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. Always in my mind is a picture of Jerusalem’s walls in ruins.”God loves us no matter what we have done or how rejected we feel. If we feel lonely and abandoned, we should remember that God wants to welcome us with open arms and hold us close.Genesis 16:7-8, 13The angel of the Lord found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur. The angel said to her, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai,” she replied. . . . Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?”Rejection may cause us to feel lost, like Hagar. But God always sees us and invites us to experience his presence and acceptance, just as Hagar did.Isaiah 50:6-9I offered my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from mockery and spitting. Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame. He who gives me justice is near. Who will dare to bring charges against me now? Where are my accusers? Let them appear! See, the Sovereign Lord is on my side! Who will declare me guilty? All my enemies will be destroyed like old clothes that have been eaten by moths!Isaiah 54:17In that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken!Sometimes rejection comes about through injustice. But God brings justice and mercy to the rejected.Romans 8:18What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.1 Peter 4:13Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.Revelation 2:10Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.God has a special reward in heaven for those who are rejected for their faith in Jesus.

Question 2

How can I recover from rejection?

Accepted Answer

Isaiah 53:3He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.We can recover from rejection by remembering that our Savior understands what we are going through because he was despised, rejected, and killed by his own family, community, and nation.1 Peter 5:7Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.We can recover from rejection by bringing our concerns to God and finding loving acceptance in him.John 14:26“When the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”Acts 9:31The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.We can recover from rejection by listening to the Holy Spirit’s voice of comfort, compassion, and encouragement.Romans 8:38I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.We can recover from rejection by remembering that though others may reject us, nothing can separate us from God’s love. God will never reject those he loves.Mark 6:4Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.”We can recover from rejection by remembering that rejection by others does not change our value or the truth about us. Jesus was God’s Son regardless of whether he was accepted or rejected by people. Instead of focusing on what other people think about us, we should focus on what God thinks about us and his love for us.Matthew 5:11-12“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.”Luke 6:22-23“What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way.”Acts 5:28-29, 42“We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man’s name!” he said. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!” But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.” . . .The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”James 1:2-3Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.If we are rejected for being a Christian, we should rejoice and persevere because we will receive special blessings from God.

Question 3

Will God ever reject me?

Accepted Answer

John 4:10Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”Jesus did not reject the Samaritan woman, but rather showed her acceptance by offering her living water. Jesus will never reject anyone who comes to him humbly and honestly, to be cleansed from sin.John 8:1-11As he [Jesus] was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”God rejects the sin without rejecting the sinner.John 6:37“However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.”God accepts all who come to him in faith, even those who have previously rejected him.Ephesians 3:12Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.Hebrews 4:15-16This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.When we trust Christ as our Savior, we gain the privilege of approaching God directly, knowing that he gladly welcomes us and will always accept us. God will never say, “Sorry, I don’t have time for you” or “I’m busy.” He always listens, always hears, always responds, and always loves. Even at our weakest, he does not reject us but, rather, embraces us so we can receive the strength we need.Job 13:21-24“Remove your heavy hand from me, and don’t terrify me with your awesome presence. Now summon me, and I will answer! Or let me speak to you, and you reply. Tell me, what have I done wrong? Show me my rebellion and my sin. Why do you turn away from me? Why do you treat me as your enemy?”Isaiah 55:3, 6“Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David. . . . Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.”We should not misinterpret God’s silence as rejection. God may seem silent because we are too busy to hear him. Or perhaps he is being quiet so that we will draw closer to him in order to more fully experience his love and acceptance.

Question 4

How should I respond to those who reject me?

Accepted Answer

Acts 18:6When they opposed and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said, “Your blood is upon your own heads—I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles.”Acts 19:8-10Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the word of the Lord.Acts 20:18-27When they arrived he [the apostle Paul] declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus. And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. . . .I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know.”2 Corinthians 2:14-16Thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?When some reject us, they may actually be rejecting the Lord we represent. We must continue to follow him and stick to his mission for us. Though others reject us, the Lord will not.Genesis 50:16–17So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept.Luke 23:34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”Acts 7:59-60As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.2 Timothy 4:16The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them.We should offer forgiveness for those who reject us, just as God offers forgiveness to us.2 Kings 20:1-6About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the Lord says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.” When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, “Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly. But before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, this message came to him from the Lord: “Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the Lord. I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my own honor and for the sake of my servant David.’”Jonah 1:3-4, 12, 15, 17; 2:10; 3:1-2Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish. But the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart. . . . “Throw me into the sea,” Jonah said, “and it will become calm again. I know that this terrible storm is all my fault.” . . . Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once! . . . Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights. . . . Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach. . . . Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.”Micah 7:18-19Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!Matthew 18:21-22Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!”John 3:16“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”John 8:10-11Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”2 Peter 1:9Those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.We should give people, even those who reject us, another chance.Luke 15:20-24“So he [the prodigal son] returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.”Rejection should not negate love. Love shows acceptance even in the face of rejection.

Question 5

How can I avoid rejecting others?

Accepted Answer

1 Samuel 16:7The Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”Isaiah 53:3He [the Messiah] was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.Matthew 23:28“Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.”Romans 14:1, 3Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. . . . Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them.Romans 15:7Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.We can avoid rejecting others by not jumping to conclusions by the way they look. Appearances can be deceiving. God never accepts or rejects someone based on appearance. Neither should we.Galatians 4:13-14Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News. But even though my condition tempted you to reject me, you did not despise me or turn me away. No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus himself.God never accepts or rejects people based on their sickness or health. Neither should we.

Question 6

Who or what should I reject?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 101:4I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil.1 Timothy 5:22Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader. Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.2 Timothy 3:5They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!We should reject all sinful thoughts and actions. Willfully accepting sin is willfully rejecting God. Willfully rejecting sin opens the door to willfully accepting God.2 Peter 2:1-3There were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.We should reject all heresy and all false teachers.Titus 3:10-11If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them. For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them.We should reject those who persist in causing division in the community of faith.

Question 7

Who does God reject?

Accepted Answer

1 Chronicles 28:9“Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.”Psalm 119:118You [the Lord] have rejected all who stray from your decrees. They are only fooling themselves.Mark 16:16“Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.”Luke 14:15-24Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!” Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’”John 3:18“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.”John 3:36“Anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”John 12:48“All who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken.”Romans 1:18God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.2 Thessalonians 2:12They will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.God rejects those who willfully reject his Son and his message of salvation, continuing to live in sin apart from him.