Intro: Rejection is a painful experience for the soul. Anyone who has experienced rejection knows it leaves scars and memories that are difficult to work through. Healing takes time; it takes divine Love.
If you have felt the sting of rejection, there is Someone who knows all about your wounds and wants to heal them. No one has experienced rejection more than Jesus. Seriously, I want you to think about Jesus—the Son of God—for a minute. Jesus experienced rejection from his biological family, friends, religious leaders, as well as his spiritual family. Scripture teaches Jesus was rejected by an entire generation (Luke 17:25). And, every time people reject the Word of God as Truth even today, they are rejecting Jesus the very One who can heal them, as well as save them from eternal destruction (Acts 4:12).
In our passage today, the writer of Hebrews shares about this rejection of Christ and the judgment people will face because of it. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb 10:31).
Hebrews 10:26-31 (TLB)
26 If anyone sins deliberately by rejecting the Savior after knowing the truth of forgiveness, this sin is not covered by Christ’s death; there is no way to get rid of it. 27 There will be nothing to look forward to but the terrible punishment of God’s awful anger, which will consume all his enemies. 28 A man who refused to obey the laws given by Moses was killed without mercy if there were two or three witnesses to his sin. 29 Think how much more terrible the punishment will be for those who have trampled underfoot the Son of God and treated his cleansing blood as though it were common and unhallowed, and insulted and outraged the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to his people.
30 For we know him who said, “Justice belongs to me; I will repay them”; who also said, “The Lord himself will handle these cases.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for blessing me with your grace and forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. Help me to honor the work of the Spirit who extends mercy. When I feel a sense of rejection, help me to remember I am in divine company. In Jesus’ name. Amen.