Most of us have felt rejected or criticized for one thing or another in our lives. But, have you ever felt rejected or criticized because of your faith? Has anyone ever avoided you, left you out of the clique, or even made fun of you because you are a Christian? No, that’s not paranoia; this happens to every dedicated Christian at one time or another. Jesus wants you to know that when you are rejected by others or shown hostility for your beliefs, you are not the one being rejected. People are hostile at Jesus, not you. They are rejecting Jesus, not you. Never forget that.

And that is where we need to follow the example of Jesus most of all. When you are rejected due to your devotion to Christ, you need to respond just as Jesus did when He was rejected on the cross. He said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.”

In your devotion to Christ, if you are rejected, face hostility, or are even persecuted, you need to forgive as Christ forgave on the cross. Because if you want to see something that should be unique about Christianity over every other religion, you look at Jesus in His Spirit on that cross, of forgiving those who have rejected Him. Are you willing to follow Jesus when it means these kinds of costs? Are you really?