Yesterday I shared that we have to know when to back off, and not force 'help' on anyone who doesn't want it. Well lest anyone see that message as an excuse to let go of a difficult relationship ☺ I want to clarify. There's a difference between trying to help someone who doesn't want help and persevering in love with someone who's rejecting you in some way. As I've said before we can love people without trying to fix them. And I've shared that sometimes you have to talk to God about the people that you can't talk to. But there are some people that are connected to our destinies, and God tells us to persevere, so even if they leave our lives for a season we are to keep praying for them and loving them and trusting God is working it all out for good.
Well I found myself praying for a group of people to become what God said they would become and I realized something not too holy in me. J I thought when they finally change I don't want to be bothered with them. Who wants to be with people who've rejected them? But that's the flesh talking. The flesh says "you didn't want me before so I don't want you now." The flesh wants to go where it's celebrated; not remain where it's rejected, and especially not love those who've rejected it.
But loving those who've rejected you is part of becoming Christlike. Joseph embraced the same brothers that sold him as a slave [Gen 45:4]. Jesus perseveres with those who have rejected Him. Jesus loves even those who come to Him only as a last resort, after they've tried everything else and even after they've been rejected by everyone else. People come to Jesus as leftovers and He readily accepts them. He doesn't say "You had your chance. You should have loved Me back when I first loved you and reached out to you." He doesn't say "I know what's in your heart and I wasn't your first choice so I refuse to be your last choice." Nope. Jesus says "I've been waiting for you" and He doesn't dredge up the past or punish past rejections. He died for those past sins.
It's about getting rid of your pride, because it's pride that says I won't have you now because you rejected me before. Love says I loved you before and I still love you now.
Part 3 tomorrow.
