First Christian Church, Flora, Indiana

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before hand to be our way of life.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Jesus said, “Have you never read in the scriptures: ‘The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?” (Matthew 21.42)

Not long ago a friend of mine received a “pink slip.” His company was downsizing due to economic conditions. My hunch is that the possibility of a down-size or the loss of a business to a community is something that can affect eighty to ninety percent of us. While my friend had not worked for the company very long, there were employees who had thirty years of seniority who lost their positions. While my friend did not take his job loss personally, such is still a tough position to be in. Losing a job whether by outsourcing, work force reduction, or by Rejection is something to which all of us can relate. Often we may feel alone in our rejection. The Good News is we have a Savior who can relate to our rejection and accepts us, because He was rejected! As Christians, the important question is “What do we do with our rejection?”

You don’t have to be a die-hard profession basketball fan to know the name Michael Jordan. Many sports commentators name Jordan as the greatest basketball player to play the game. Those who don’t name him as the greatest player put him in the top handful of the best. At the same time, this NBA legend and former Chicago Bulls star player failed to make the varsity basketball team his sophomore year of high school.  As a child his days had revolved around basketball. For many this setback could have been an excuse to hand up the practice uniform and give up on the possibility of playing basketball in the future. During his sophomore year, Jordan approached the coach and sought out the instructions he needed to improve for the next year. Instead of defeat, his rejection became a challenge to prove to his coach and more so to himself, that he belonged on the team. Today Michael Jordan is not only a basketball legend, but also a major contributor to inner city programs that work to build self-esteem and respect among youth.

Granted very few of us have the natural athleticism of a Michael Jordan. However, we all have experienced rejection in some form or another. The real issue is not that we are rejected, but what we do with it. We have a Lord who has not rejected us, who is there to pick us up and says: “You are mine, you belong to me, and you can do all things in my strength.” (Philippians 4:13). You can do it. “Come to me and let me take your weariness, burdens and rejection and I will lift your load.” (Matthew 11:28-30) I can use you and bring others into God’s acceptance…because I was first rejected. This IS the definition of God’s grace that we will be exploring in June’s sermons. God does not give up on us. Let us not give up on ourselves because God does not give up on us.

Amen.

Pastor Sam

“The Lord taught us to pray not only in words, but also in actions.” Saint Cyprian of Carthage