So what happens when you are trying to do the "right" thing and you offer to help someone out and they turn you down? What do you do with that? What if you offer a cup of water in the name of Jesus and it is rejected? Does that mean you failed in your attempt to be Jesus and to bring Jesus into our world through love in action?
No, I don't believe so. In our quest to mimic the behavior of Christ we need to be prepared to deal with rejection on a number of levels. People may not understand why we are doing what we are doing, and they might tell us that much or even show us their disapproval. The question we need to ask ourselves during these moments of rejection is simply this, "so now what?" Will we quit demonstrating the gospel just because our efforts are in "vain", or so it seems at the time.
This is what I ask myself every day. Our neighbor is away at RCMP training and has left behind his wife and two daughters while he works to achieve a better life for their family in the future. His wife doesn't drive and has no way to go out and run errands or get groceries. Bonny & I have offered to take her out when she needs, but she has yet to respond to our invitation. Does this mean we've failed at being good neighbors? No, I don't believe so. We've simply responded to the need that we are aware of with what we have to offer. If our overtures of grace are rejected, we can't do anything about it. What we can do is control our attitude and our response to the needs that surround us.
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