She had traveled a long distance. Hot. Tired. Pregnant. Her fiancé was there, lovingly holding her hand. Yet she could feel the disdain from her future in-laws. Their judgmental remarks, their accusatory stares hurt but she held her head high because she had a promise.
Finally, they arrive at their relatives home. The house is bursting with people and excitement. But when Mary and Joseph walk into the room, the atmosphere changed. It was like, deflating a ballon. Despite being known for their hospitality, despite the fact this young girl was noticeably pregnant, they could not make room for Joseph and his future bride. They were rejected, banned, outcast to a lowly place, the manger.
Sometimes life hands us a rejection notice. Divorce. Fired. Demoted. Unfriended. Avoided. Unlike. We all, like Mary and Joseph may find ourselves outcast to a lowly manger. But their rejection did not stop the promise God had given them from being fulfilled. In fact, it was the birthplace of the dream. Jesus showed up in the midst of the rejection.
Here is a promise we can all cling to: You may sometimes be rejected by people but you are ALWAYS ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED. When rejection comes, like Mary hold your head high and remember the promise. Your place of rejection is the birthplace of the next move of God in your life. When rejected:
1. Remember God’s promises.
2. Do not allow the rejection to define you.
3. Forgive.
4. Keep doing what God has called you to do.
Friends, Jesus was rejected by those He came to save. He was rejected so that you could be forever accepted in Him. What does it matter what men think of you? The God of the Universe accepts you. The God of the Universe likes you. The God of the Universe has declared, “You are His!’ There may not be room for you in the inn but there is always room for you in His lap! It’s more comfortable there anyway.
“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”
Luke 2:7 NET