When We Are Scorned

Thistlebend Quiet eMoment

by Laurie Aker

Focus Scripture: Luke 10:1-12 ESV

1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others
and sent them on ahead of him, two by two,
into every town and place
where he himself was about to go.
2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful,
but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out
as lambs in the midst of wolves.
4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals,
and greet no one on the road.
5 Whatever house you enter, first say,
‘Peace be to this house!’
6 And if a son of peace is there,
your peace will rest upon him.
But if not, it will return to you.
7 And remain in the same house,
eating and drinking what they provide,
for the laborer deserves his wages.
Do not go from house to house.
8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you,
eat what is set before you.
9 Heal the sick in it and say to them,
‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
10 But whenever you enter a town
and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say,
11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet
we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this,
that the kingdom of God has come near.’
12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day
for Sodom than for that town.
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If someone mistreats one of Christ’s own,
it is as if they were mistreating Christ Himself.

When we are scorned, mocked, ignored, or slandered
because of our devotion to Christ, His Word, and the gospel,
it can be so very painful and so heartbreaking.

We can at first take it so personally.
We feel like a social pariah.
We second guess the things we said and how we said it.
We wonder crazy things like,
“Was it my hair? My outfit? Bad breath?”
It can take us back to junior high when
we were rejected from the “in” crowd.

Sometimes it is worse than that.
We can be passed over for a promotion,
lose a job, or lose a relationship with a dear family member.

In other countries, it is much worse.
They can be tortured or lose their life.

But if we are truly speaking and acting and living in
the Spirit of Christ, the rejection is profound.
It isn’t due to any temporal or passing thing,
it is a matter of life and death.
Eternal life and eternal death.

TAKING THE TRUTH TO HEART

Rejection for the gospel should remind us that we all are sinners,
all guilty, all deserving of eternal punishment and death.
Without God’s mercy and grace we all would reject Christ.

Take a moment and look back to that day in Jerusalem.
The day when everyone cried, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”
It is a reminder to each of us that had we lived at that time,
apart from God’s grace, we would have been in that crowd.
Those words would have come from our lips.

The next time someone rejects us, condemns us,
or mocks us because of Christ,
let us remember that we did the same–
and much–more to Him.

AND BRINGING IT TO LIFE

Choose one truth from today and apply it to your heart.
Take it with you throughout the day.

PRAYER

Father, please help me to remember
that the only reason I received you is because of your grace.
Please grant those around me who are still rejecting you
that same saving grace.

In His hands for His glory,
Laurie
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