Q: How should we respond to the rejection we receive when seeking to share God’s love with others?
A: I think you might have your own answer right there in your question.
Now, I would agree with you that sometimes it’s really hard when you want to love somebody and bless them and they’re not interested in what you have. We can feel that rejection and let it hurt us, and if we respond without Jesus, we might even let ourselves grow bitter towards that person who we were trying to love.
But right there is the answer to this problem: love. That same love that you are trying to share with them is the love that forgives! That same love that you are talking about in your question is the love that believes the best of that person who rejected you!
Sometimes, when somebody will not receive my love, for whatever reason, I say to myself, “They don’t really know what they’re doing. They don’t really know. I need to give them mercy. I need to keep my heart open.” We certainly will not be responding in Christ if we let that rejection close our hearts to that person!
Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”
The Word of God is saying that we need to guard our hearts from offense and unforgiveness, because our hearts are so important to the way we live our whole lives, friend. They influence every decision we make.
Ephesians 4:32 says, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
That’s the kind of love that we are asked to give to others. If we depend on Him, we can give that love, even when others reject us and the message we carry.
Additional verses for study:
Romans 12:17–18 NKJV
“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”
Luke 6:27–28 NKJV
“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.”
1 Peter 3:9 NKJV
“Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.”
Colossians 3:12–13 NKJV
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”
1 Corinthians 13:7 NKJV
“[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
