Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ¹⁵  “And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you?  You will be brought down to Hades!

 ¹⁶  “The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”   Luke 10:13-16.

Rejection should not come to us as a surprise.  I think that it is helpful to remember the following four points. 

First, Christ was rejected, and so we will also be rejected by some, by even many.  Christ even performed miracles, showing His divine goodness and power and authority, and yet He was still rejected. 

Second, those that are rejecting us are not ultimately rejecting us personally or our performance, they are rejecting Christ, the Son, and rejecting God, the Father.

Third, one of the purposes of preaching and teaching is that “… every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God;”  Romans 3:19.  Even though a person rejects Christ, the preaching and teaching accomplishes the goal of justice of holding that person more fully accountable to God, without excuse.     

Fourth, we may be blessed.  “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 5:10 .  Rejection may be a sign that we are preaching and teaching the true Gospel.  If we are preaching and teaching a “gospel” focused on man and his goodness and his best life and free-will, then it is not as likely that we will be rejected or even persecuted.  However, if we are preaching and teaching a true Gospel based on the sovereignty and holiness of God and the “totally depraved” nature of man and predestination, then it is more likely that we will be rejected or even persecuted.