August 29, 2012
Ever Feel Unliked
There is a component within our human nature that causes us, for the most part, to want to be liked by other people. Being liked is sometimes perceived as being accepted and sometimes it goes beyond that. But, regardless of our need and or our desire to be liked at whatever level: being liked makes us feel good: there are very few, if any of us who like the idea of being disliked for whatever reason.
The perception is that if a person dislikes us they are then indifferent to us and don’t care about who we are or what we are all about.
“The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that’s the essence of inhumanity.”
- George Bernard Shaw
Ye did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye may love one another. If the world hateth you, ye know that it hath hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word may be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall bear witness of me: and ye also bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
John 15:16-27
As Christians, however, we have to realize that to be all that we need to be in Christ sometimes means the world will not like us. To be disliked it often to be misunderstood or in some cases it is the equivalent of outright rejection.
But then again we are in good company. Jesus has and does experience that kind of dislike and rejection all the time.
And in the end, who would you rather be liked by, God, or the world?
Today’s Prayer
Father, help me not to become discouraged or despondent if I find myself being not liked by people because of you and your place in my life. May I count it a blessings and a joy.
“Give me your eyes
For just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I’ve been missing
Give me your love for humanity.
Give me your arms for the brokenhearted
Ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see“
- Lyrics from ‘Give Me Your Eyes’ by Brandon Heath and Jason Ingram
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