Patience When Rejected

Chuckle: "I have been in many places, but I've never been in Cahoots. Apparently, you can't go alone. You have to be with someone."

Quote: Hudson Taylor would tell those who wanted to be missionaries to China that there are three indispensable requirements for a missionary: Patience, Patience, and Patience.

"For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord" (James 5:10 NLT).

Like the prophets of old, we need patience when we face disapproval and rejection as Christians. The prophets persevered with patience even when they were laughed at, ridiculed, persecuted, or totally ignored. They stood up and spoke God's message whether it was popular or not without concern for themselves. They spoke whether people wanted to hear it or not. They showed patience as they waited on God to make things right.

Some of us may face ridicule and be otherwise mistreated because we know and love our Lord Jesus Christ. We need to be patient with those who treat us unfairly and keep on loving them as Jesus loves them. The dictionary defines patience as: "The capacity to accept, tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry and upset." The patient person takes a long time before he/she looses their cool and blows their top -- even with the person at work who is always hateful and mean -- that cruel kid at school -- that cantankerous family member. Yes, we need to be patient and consider that their actions may be driven by some deep spiritual need.

No one treated Abraham Lincoln with more contempt than did Edwin Stanton, who denounced Lincoln's policies and called him demeaning names. Lincoln said nothing in reply. In fact, he made Stanton his war minister because Stanton was the best man for the job. Lincoln treated him with every courtesy. The years went by, and the night came when an assassin's bullet struck down Lincoln in the Ford's theatre. In a room off to the side where Lincoln's body was taken, stood Stanton that night. As he looked down on the silent, rugged face of the President, Stanton said through his tears, "There lies the greatest ruler of men the world has ever seen." Patience, love and understanding conquered in the end.

God's people are to be patient and love others as Jesus has loved us. Genuine love for people will go a long way toward defusing your impatience even when you face rejection and criticism. Just think for a moment about the love Jesus has shown you and the patience He has shown you even before you came to know Him as Savior and Lord. Jesus said, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me" (Matthew 5:11 NIV).

Love, Jerry & Dotse