“REJECTED”
Nothing seems to be a harder blow than to feel rejected. There’s something in all of us that wants to feel acceptance and to feel recognized so when a friend, associate, or people you think would show you some consideration don’t – it really makes you feel “rejected.”
Sometimes the feeling of rejection seems to mount. People you would think would remember your birthday don’t; the job you applied for that looked promising and seemed to be a perfect fit for you only turned out to be another rejection; then as you looked for someone with whom you could share your feelings of rejection there seemed to be nobody interested.
We’ve all been there, maybe not in the exact scenario but similar circumstances where we feel like giving up as a result of feeling rejected. There was a man in Jesus' day who was rejected and his rejection resulted because of the good thing that happened to him – his blind eyes were made to see.
John 9:1-7 (ESV) 1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
You would think this would be the greatest day of his life – born blind and now having full sight, but it was the beginning of trouble. The religious leaders threatened everyone. His own family had the opportunity to stick up for him, but they backed down because they were too scared of the religious leaders who eventually threw him out of the local synagogue. Rejected and cast off, the man who was born blind, now able to see, was left alone until Jesus arrived.
John 9:35 (ESV) Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"
Jesus, the one who would be “despised and rejected” seems to look for those who are feeling the same.
Isaiah 53:3-5 (ESV) 3 He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.
Years before the experience of the man born blind, David made an important declaration in the book of Psalms that is applicable to all who feel rejected:
Psalms 27:10 (ESV) For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.
Jesus left his disciples with this promise that is applicable to us today and everyday whenever we feel abandoned and rejected:
John 14:18 (ESV) "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
His arms are opened to us and His heart is touched with empathy for our feeling of rejection, so run to Him and find help and comfort to pick up the pieces and stay in the race of life.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
Bob is the pastor of Christ Community Presbyterian Church, Clearwater, Florida. See www.ccpconline.org for church information and listen to Bob’s latest sermons.
Join us April 10, 2010 at 7:30 a.m. for the
Fourth Annual
“ONE BREATH FROM DEATH – LOOK WHAT GOD CAN DO”
www.bobbrubaker.com/century.
Join us (invite your friends) for the fourth annual century in celebration of God sparing Bob Brubaker’s life on April 6, 2005.
Just so you know, Bob was dying from pneumonia caused by a rare lung disease called diffuse pan bronchialitis. Bob was sent to National Jewish Medical Center in Denver, CO where he received treatment. In the midst of the doctors “making him very sick in order to make him better,” he went through an open lung surgical biopsy. The following day his chest tube was pulled and his lung collapsed sending air through his body and closing off his airway. Finally a doctor inserted a new chest tube that saved Bob’s life but the air that had escaped his lung traveled throughout Bob’s body, causing him to swell to five times his normal size.
God showed Himself great in not only sparing Bob’s life, giving him a great witness in the midst of his recovery in the hospital, but the root cause of Bob’s illness was discovered. He went through rigorous treatments, and has completed a marathon, a half ironman triathlon, and four full ironman triathlons since his one breath from death experience. For complete details of his story see Bob’s website: www.bobbrubaker.com and follow the link.
In 2006 a group of riders joined Bob for weekly rides to encourage his return to cycling and triathlons. As they rode together, Bob learned of the desire in many from the group to complete a century (100 mile) ride so they organized the first One Breath From Death – Look What God Can Do Century. Since 2006, the ride has moved to various locations but the purpose is the same - to celebrate God’s goodness in sparing Bob’s life. “Look What God Can Do.” Bob has learned to take every breath as a gift from God, and encourages others to recognize God's blessings in their lives as well.
Thank you for being part of our annual celebration.
Godspeed,
Bob and Jan Brubaker
The Course: Withlacoochee Trail
We will begin and end at the Trailhead located just East of I-75 on SR 50
For details - follow the Withlacoochee Trail link from www.bobbrubaker.com/century.
The trail is straight forward – the trail is 40 miles in length from the start of this trailhead to the end of the trail. Turn around whenever you need to turn around. For those going the full century (100 miles) turn around at the end, return 10 miles, go back to the end, and then come back to the starting point. Otherwise, half the distance you want to do and follow the mile markers printed on the trail. We will have water and Nutrition at the SR 44 intersection.
