Facing Rejection

     Have you ever dealt with the feeling that you will never be good enough for someone?  Or that you just don't measure up to someone's expectations of what you should be or that you just will never outlive the things you have done in your past? 
     Well as I was reading this morning I came across a devotion that just spoke to that part of my heart, the part that felt that I was never going to be good enough.  It is from yessterday's evening devotion of Billy Graham's book Hope for Each Day. 
     ...How did Jesus respond to this criticism and rejection?  First, with steadfastness.  He did not tone down His message, nor did He stop doing what He knew was right.  Second, with strength.  Ahead of Him was the cross, but He did not lose courage or shrink form what He knew was God's will.  Third, with submission.  When Herod prodded Jesus to defend Himself, "He anwered him nothing" (Luke 23:9).  Only one thing mattered: fulfilling God's purpose for His life.
     How will you meet criticism?
     I will follow Christ's example.  First by continuing to take care of my family, staying active in my church and doing my work because they are the right thing to do.  Secondly by facing criticism with strength by keeping God's will in mind when people want to tear me down.  And finally third, by submission, realizing God's purpose is at work in my life and that what doesn't kill me will make me stronger.  Remember that nowhere in these verses does it say that Jesus responded in anger.

Power Verse for Today:
Phillipians 2:14-16
Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you.  Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse poeple.  Hold firmly to the word of life; then on the day of Christ's return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.

Peace On Earth?

Today's entry comes from Billy Graham's book Hope For The Future:

     He Himself is our peace.  -Ephesians 2:14

     For as long as I can remember there have been innovative ideas for bringing peace to this Earth.  Organizations have been created, much money and time have been spent, treaties have been signed, books have been written--all in an effort to find a formula that would bring peace on Earth and goodwill to men.
     World War I was called "the war to end all wars," but it wasn't.  Whether nations fight one another or not, there is warfare in the home: warfare between husband and wife, between parents and children, between brothers and sisters, between neighbors, between boss and employee.
     What can be done? It sounds almost simplistic to say we need to turn to God, but that is the only lasting solution.  Only God can remove the poisons of greed and hatred and jealousy in our hearts, and replace them with contentment and compassion and forgiveness.  Only He can subdue the violence and rage within us, and replace them with His peace and love.
     Whatever wars rage in your life, lay them down at the foot of the cross and ask Jesus to give you His peace.

Powerful Passages:

Proverbs 14:1
A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.

Hebrews 4:13-16
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God.  Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.  So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.  This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.  So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.  There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.