There are few pains more personal than rejection.

It hurts when strangers reject you.
It hurts when family and friends reject you.
It hurts when people who share your confession, your language, and your history reject you.

And when that happens, the temptation is obvious. You begin to wonder whether their rejection says something final about you.

Perhaps I really am nothing.
Perhaps I really am not worth hearing.
Perhaps I really am outside.
Perhaps I have no place.

But in a recent sermon we heard how the apostle John told Christians to expect this:

Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. (1 John 3:13)

Now, John is talking to Christians who have been rejected by other Christians. If you’re rejected by people close to you, even within the church, it hurts more. But it’s no less expected. The “world” is not merely out there. Its unbelief, pride, fear, and loveless judgment still cling to every sinner, even within the visible church. So don’t be surprised if anyone in the world rejects you — even people very close to you.

But God has not rejected you, in fact he encourages you:

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. (Isaiah 43:1)

Your value is not established by whether other people receive you, recognise you, understand you, or reject you.

Because God says, “You are mine.”

In fact, that is what baptism means: God has put his name on you. Before anyone else spoke their verdict over you, God spoke his.

That is deeper than reputation, fellowship status, institutional acceptance, or human judgment.

And he does not say it because you have proved yourself useful. He says it because he has redeemed you. Your worth is located in Christ’s blood, not in anyone else’s verdict.

The church is commissioned by God to give you the Gospel where God himself declares you accepted in Christ.

If you live near Greater Manchester, you can come receive that Gospel at Manchester Lutheran Church every Sunday. Join us at 10:45am for coffee and 11:00am for the service: https://mcrlt.ch/sundays/

If you live outside Greater Manchester, you can receive that Gospel online with the Confessional Lutheran Church every Wednesday at 6:00pm: https://lutheran.ch/online-service/