DEALING WITH REJECTION IN THE COURSE OF EVANGELISM
NOVEMBER 23, 2024
TEXT
If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. (John 15:18)
As believers who have been called and set aside to be partakers of the Great Commission, it is very important to know that rejection is inevitable. If Christ Himself, the author and finisher of our faith and our Mentor, could be rejected even in His own village, how much more you and I? (John 1:11)
Rejection is bound to happen one way or the other in the course of carrying out the Great Commission, but it is the way we react to it that matters. A person’s message could be rejected for a variety of reasons, some of which include: lack of understanding on the part of the preacher regarding the topic being taught or preached, preconceived opinions that people already have about Christians due to previous encounters with fake ones, knowledge of different secret sins or inconsistent lifestyle of the preacher, failure to change seemingly defective methods of evangelizing, and so many other factors.
Having said all these, how best can we then react or respond to rejections during evangelism?
HOW TO REACT TO REJECTION
- Don’t take such rejection personally. Understand that you are not the owner of the work. Man can evangelize, but it is God who gives the increase and convinces the souls. Don’t let it bother you so much.
- Pray constantly for those who reject the gospel. Don’t take them as your enemies.
- Never let it make you lose passion in spreading the word of God to those in need of it.
SEARCHLIGHT
Rejection during evangelism is not equal to failure. The key thing is to obey the Lord.
PRAYER
O Lord, give me the enabling grace to deal with rejection, in the name of Jesus.
BIBLE READING
Zechariah 3-5, Luke 7
PST. MICHAEL OMOLE
