OBSCURE BUT SIGNIFICANT

"Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.  One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone." John 1:35-42

We often have the mistaken idea that only the visible workers in the work of the Lord are worthy of consideration. We must not overlook the contribution of the steadfast supporters who are working for the Lord in obscure and less visible areas of God’s kingdom. Some of the greatest workers in the kingdom are too often little known and unnoticed. Yet the work they perform is much like the seasoning in good food. Andrew, a disciple of Jesus, was such a person.

The day after John the Baptist made his first public announcement of Jesus, his disciples began to seek Jesus out. The first two disciples to follow Jesus were Andrew and his friend John, the brother of James. When they found Jesus, they asked Him, “Where dwellest thou?”

They probably thought that it would be good to get to know more about Him. Jesus invited these two disciples of John to spend the evening with Him, exceeding their expectations. They became convinced that John’s announcement that Jesus was the Christ was true. They were compelled to tell their brothers about their discovery of the Christ and to lead them to Him.

Andrew is barely noticed by Christian historians and only mentioned six times by name in the New Testament. Yet we are indebted to this little-known disciple for bringing to Jesus his later well-known brother, Peter. What a ready-made missionary field our families provide! Andrew did not rush off to another field of labor. His first testimony was given to those at home.

On one occasion when a large crowd had followed Him, Jesus tested the faith of Philip when He asked him, “Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” (Jn. 6:5). Philip, the practical person that he was, sized up the situation and with no faith for a solution replied, “Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them that every one of them may take a little.” The disciples suggested that Jesus send the multitude away because it was late in the day. Jesus said, “Give ye them to eat” (Mr. 6:3). The disciples failed the same test of faith that Philip had failed. They asked, “Shall we go and buy...and give them to eat?” (Mr. 6:37).

Andrew brought a boy and his lunch of five small barley loaves and two small fish to Jesus. He said, “But what are they among so many?” (Jn. 6:9). Andrew’s skeptical question was touched with just a hint of faith. Why would Andrew have bothered to bring the little lunch to Jesus if he did not think that Jesus would do something with it? Jesus acted upon Andrew’s suggestion at once.

 It is amazing to see what Jesus can do with our limited resources and little faith. He starts with what we have and blesses it that it may become sufficient for what we need. We should follow the example of Andrew and bring to Jesus what little we have in order for Him to multiply it.

One day a group of Greeks came to Philip and asked him to arrange for them to meet with Jesus. Philip consulted Andrew and both of them brought word to Jesus. When Andrew and Philip brought the request to Jesus for an interview with the Greeks, they opened the door for Him to teach on the true purpose of His death (Jn. 12:23-36).

Anyone that is obscure could be defined as not well known or not famous. Andrew, by comparison to his brother, Peter, was not well known or famous. Yet his life was significant and full of meaning and importance.

Jesus had an inner circle within His group of apostles. Peter, James, and John were with Him when Jairus’ daughter was raised, at the transfiguration and during Jesus’ agonizing prayer in Gethsemane. These three men shared a special place of closeness with Jesus during several key events while Andrew and the others were outside of the inner circle.

Andrew’s older brother Peter, whom he had brought to Christ went on to be well known in the church. His experience was similar to that of a teacher whose student rises to greater acclaim than the one who taught him. Or, it was like a younger brother who's only public identity is his relationship to an older brother. Andrew was quietly unobserved as Peter boldly built a reputation of great acknowledgments of faith.

Andrew received no acclaim. There is no biblical record of any sermon that he preached or sacred writing written. Jesus did not recognize him for meritorious service or commend him for a great character. But that is not to say that he lacked greatness or was unworthy of such commendation. Rather, he seemed to be great in a quiet unassuming way. Indeed, the absence of a clamor for attention or personal credit are marks of his greatness and still are traits greatly to be desired!

Andrew exemplified the concept Jesus taught that “the first shall be last.” Although Andrew was the first disciple he was not in the foreground of leadership. Andrew was content to remain obscure. He did not make any effort to push ahead of the other apostles for attention. James and John pressed Jesus for positions of prominence in the coming kingdom, but this was not so of Andrew.

Apparently, there was no envy in the heart of Andrew toward the popular apostolic spokesman and leader, his brother. He displayed the pure essence of true love that “envieth not”. No evil jealousy corrupted Andrew’s heart.

Small people drop names and snip at the heels of those who are climbing past them. Few indeed are the individuals who are able to love, lead, and then linger on the sidelines to cheer while others seem to pass them by.

THERE  IS  A  GREAT  NEED TO SUPPORT  PEOPLE  IN  THE  WORK  OF  GOD

“For the body (the church) is not one member, but many” (I Cor. 12:14).  When we think of the apostle Paul’s comparison of the human body and the body of Christ, the church, we are reminded of how important little things are. There is a need for more than just the prominent. Paul asked the question: “If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?” The body would be out of balance if the head were only one large eye, or ears, or nose. "

Each one of us provides for the church a needed function that we have been called to do. Somebody must provide the behind-the-scenes support to make possible each activity in the church. We should be content to do our part in support of all who are depending upon us. Ultimately, Christ is counting on us to do all that He has called and ordained for us to do.

The value of small things in life can never be understated. There are many small and seemingly insignificant things in life upon which we depend completely. We know we can count on Jesus always to be the same, but can He depend on us? Will we be in the place where He has planted us? Every leader must have a dedicated staff of people upon whom he can depend. It has been said that the greatest ability in life is availability.

Much harm can come from individuals who, after serving successfully in a secondary capacity, grow restless and decide to go elsewhere where they can be a prominent leader. Such an impulsive move can cause confusion and disaster if the person has not been called to that place of leadership. It is much better that a person be content to labor faithfully in whatever capacity God has placed him until such a time as God would choose to move him into another area of service.

Following in the footsteps of Andrew is challenging. The unassuming character found in Andrew placed him quietly in the background lifting up others. When he came to prominence, it was always on behalf of someone else. He brought his brother, Peter, to Jesus. He brought a lad and his lunch to Jesus. He brought the Greeks’ request to Jesus.

The kingdom of God today is in need of dedicated people who, like Andrew, are loyal, faithful, and supportive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

¿UN VERDADERO CRISTIANO O UN ATEO PRÁCTICO?

“Y al que sabe hacer lo bueno, y no lo hace, le es pecado.” Santiago 4:17

¿Ha oído alguna vez usted el término “ateo práctico”? Este es un término usado por algunos grupos religioso para describir a todos aquellos creyentes que técnicamente creen en Dios, pero quiénes se comportan inmoralmente. La suposición es que comportamiento moral sigue automáticamente a partir de una verdadera creencia en Dios, por lo tanto inmoral comportamiento es consecuencia de no creer realmente. Un creyente que se comporta inmoralmente realmente debe ser un ateo, sin tener en cuenta lo que él cree. Espiritualmente él cree en Dios. Pero en la práctica, él vive como si Él no existe.

Un ateo práctico duda de Dios por la práctica. El ateísmo práctico es centrado en la idea que uno ignora la creencia en Dios en la vida cotidiana, pero no necesariamente rechaza la existencia de Dios cuando esto se trata de creencias  que profesan. Así una persona podría profesar fe en Dios, pero en la práctica ser más cercana al ateísmo.

Durante años, creí que la iglesia estaba llena de dos tipos de personas; aquellos que creían y quiénes no. Nuestras predicaciones tenían como objetivo alcanzar a ambos grupos. Tratamos de ayudar aquellos que ya creían por la profundización de su fe así como su entendimiento de la Biblia, y tratamos de introducir aquellos que no creían a la realidad de Dios.

Con el tiempo, sin embargo, me di cuenta de un fenómeno interesante. Muchas de las personas con quien hablé  con el largo de mis años en el ministerio y en el curso natural de la vida se consideraban cristianos. Muy pocos profesaron ser ateos, o hasta tener dudas serias sobre la existencia de Dios. Todos parecían creer en Dios, sin embargo, muchos de ellos no asistían a la iglesia con regularidad o pasaban mucho tiempo buscándole. Ellos vivían en el reconocimiento de que hay un Dios, pero no miran ninguna conexión entre su creencia y la forma en que se dedican a sus asuntos cotidianos. Ellos nunca consideran o incluyen a Dios en sus decisiones claves, o modelan sus vidas según Sus valores. En consecuencia, ellos creen en Dios, pero se comportaron como si Él no existe. El Ateísmo Práctico es una dicotomía, una división entre lo que decimos y lo que hacemos. El Ateísmo Práctico explica la sima entre lo que muchas personas dicen que ellos creen y como ellos viven sus vidas.

Hay una muy real desconexión entre las creencias de muchos creyentes y su comportamiento. No creo que sea una exageración decir que el ateísmo práctico se ha hecho la forma dominante del cristianismo  actual. Lo que es más es que esto ha perjudicado nuestra capacidad de encontrar a Dios, experimentar el cambio de vida y participar en la vocación que Él tiene para nuestras vidas. Aunque la Iglesia es la más educada, con recursos suficientes, e la más prominente en la historia, el fenómeno del Ateísmo Práctico nos ha inoculado  contra un más profundo, más vibrante expresión de nuestra fe.   

Muchos cristianos hablan de sentirse desconectados de Dios y desalentado con la vida porque ellos han venido a creer que no es posible experimentar verdaderamente a Dios. ¿Es el Ateísmo Práctico algo que usted ha visto  obrando en su propia vida? ¿De ser así, qué ha hecho usted para vencerlo?

“Porque la ira de Dios se revela desde el cielo contra toda impiedad e injusticia de los hombres que detienen con injusticia la verdad; porque lo que de Dios se conoce les es manifiesto, pues Dios se lo manifestó. Porque las cosas invisibles de él, su eterno poder y deidad, se hacen claramente visibles desde la creación del mundo, siendo entendidas por medio de las cosas hechas, de modo que no tienen excusa. Pues habiendo conocido a Dios, no le glorificaron como a Dios, ni le dieron gracias, sino que se envanecieron en sus razonamientos, y su necio corazón fue entenebrecido” Romanos 1:18-21. La mayoría de nosotros hemos leído esta escritura, estoy seguro. Y somos horrorizados que aquellos ateos niegan la existencia de Dios cuando “las cosas invisibles de él, su eterno poder y deidad, se hacen claramente visibles.” Sabemos que más allá de meros argumentos (apologética), “lo que de Dios se conoce les es manifiesto, pues Dios se lo manifestó.” Y por lo tanto, si somos gente compasiva, estamos preocupados por ellos porque la ira de Dios está sobre ellos.

Cuando leí esto, hay algo que me llama la atención, y no se trata de “ellos”. Pablo dijo que su falta de honrar a Dios tenía un síntoma específico. Ellos no le honraron como Dios... o dieron gracias a Él. La principal característica de este “ateo” es una falta de gratitud a Dios. Y la razón que esto se destaca es que a menudo carecemos de esa calidad particular. Somos testigos de Su poder eterno y naturaleza divina, y sin embargo, con demasiada frecuencia no estamos tan agradecidos como deberíamos ser. Esto está muy mal; esto nos pone, demasiado a menudo, en la categoría del ateo práctico. Decimos amar a Dios y ha si es, pero hay muchas veces que vivimos o sentimos o pensamos o actuamos como si Él no está allí, como si todo lo que tenemos lo hemos logrado adquirir, como si Él nos debe, como si se trata todo de nosotros.

El setenta y dos por ciento de los Cristianos afirma que ellos han hecho un compromiso personal con Jesucristo, pero sólo el 17 por ciento siente que la iglesia local es necesaria para el crecimiento espiritual y sólo uno de cada tres Cristianos creen que Dios espera que ellos sean santos. Jesucristo no murió solamente en la cruz para que podamos solo decir una oración y vivir como queramos, creo que cuando se trata de la oración la mayoría de los cristianos son realmente supersticiosos más bien que creyentes en lo sobrenatural.

No mucha gente le dirá, “yo soy un ateo”.  Al menos no con sus palabras. Pero los estilos de vida de muchos dice lo contrario. Conozco a mucha gente quiénes viven sus vidas como si Dios no existiera. Ellos son lo que llamamos “ateos prácticos.” Ellos no toman a Dios en la consideración. Ellos lo excluyen de sus pensamientos, su forma de hablar, sus planes y sus actividades.

¿Vive usted como un ateo práctico, haciendo caso omiso de los mandamientos y preceptos de Dios, confiando en su propia sabiduría, y rechazando creer en la bondad de Dios? ¿O es su creencia en Dios evidente en su hablar y en su entrega a la dirección de Dios día tras día? La fe sin obras está muerta, diría Santiago. No deje su vida negar su creencia en Dios.

 

A REAL CHRISTIAN OR A PRACTICAL ATHEIST?

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17

Have you ever heard the term "practical atheist”? This is a term used by some religious groups to describe all those believers who technically believe in God, but who behave immorally. The assumption is that moral behavior follows automatically from genuine believing in God, thus immoral behavior is a consequence of not genuinely believing. A believer who behaves immorally must be an atheist, regardless of what he believes. Spiritually he believes in God. But practically, he lives as if He doesn’t exist.

A practical atheist disbelieves God as a matter of practice. Practical atheism is centered on the idea that one disregards belief in God in day-to-day living but doesn't necessarily reject the existence of God when it comes to professed beliefs. Thus a person might profess faith in God, but in practice be closer to atheism.

For years, I believed the church was filled with two types of people; those who believed in God and those who didn’t. Our messages were aimed to reach both groups. We tried to help those that already believed by deepening their faith as well as their understanding of the Bible, and we tried to introduce those that did not believe to the reality of God.

Over time, however, I noticed an interesting phenomenon. Many of the people that I talked with throughout my years in the ministry and through the natural course of life regarded themselves as Christians. Very few professed to be atheists, or even to have serious doubts about the existence of God. Everyone seemed to believe in God, yet many of them didn’t attend church regularly or spent much time seeking Him. They live in recognition that there is a God, yet see no connection between their belief and how they go about their daily affairs. They never consider or include God in their key decisions, or patterned their lives after His values. Consequently, they believed in God but behaved as if He doesn’t exist. Practical Atheism is a dichotomy, a split between what we say and what we do. Practical Atheism explains the chasm between what many people say they believe and how they live their lives.

There is a very real disconnect between many believers' beliefs and their behavior. I don’t think it is an exaggeration to say that Practical Atheism has become the dominant form of Christianity today. What’s more is that it has impaired our ability to encounter God, to experience life change, and to engage in the calling He has for our lives. Although the Church is the most educated, resourced, and prominent Church in history, the phenomena of Practical Atheism has inoculated us against a deeper, more vibrant expression of our faith.

Many Christians speak of feeling disconnected from God and discouraged with life because they have come to believe that it isn’t possible to genuinely experience God. Is Practical Atheism something you’ve seen at work in your own life? If so, what have you done to overcome it?

“The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:18-21). Most of us have read this scripture before, I'm sure. And we're appalled that those atheists deny God's existence when “His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived.” We know that beyond mere arguments (apologetics), “what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.” And so, if we're compassionate people, we're concerned for them because the wrath of God is on them.

When I read this, there is something that stands out to me, and it's not about "them". Paul said that their failure to honor God had a specific symptom. They did not honor Him as God ... or give thanks to Him. The hallmark of this "atheist" is a lack of gratitude to God. And the reason it stands out is that we often lack that particular quality. We are witnesses to His eternal power and divine nature, and yet too often we are not nearly as grateful as we should be. This is very wrong; this puts us, too often, in the category of the practical atheist. We say I love God and we do, but there are too many times that we live or feel or think or act as if He's not there, as if all we have we managed to acquire as if He owes us as if it's all about us.

Seventy-two percent of Christians claim they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ, but only 17 percent feel that the local church is necessary for spiritual growth and only one in three Christians believe God expects them to be holy. Jesus Christ didn't just die on the cross so we can just say a prayer and live however we want, I believe when it comes to prayer most Christians are superstitious rather than believers in the supernatural.

Not too many people will tell you, "I'm an atheist." At least not with their words. But the lifestyles of many say otherwise. I know a lot of people who are living their lives as if there were no God. They are what we call “practical atheists.” They do not consider God. They leave Him out of their thinking, their speech, their plans, and their activities.

Are you living like a practical atheist, disregarding God's commands and precepts, relying on your own wisdom, and refusing to believe in the goodness of God? Or is your belief in God evident in your speech and your surrender to God's leading day by day? Faith without works is dead faith, James would say. Don't let your life deny your belief in God.

 

¿POR QUÉ SE ESCONDE DIOS?

“¿Hasta cuándo, Jehová? ¿Me olvidaras para siempre? ¿Hasta cuándo esconderás tu rostro de mí? ¿Hasta cuándo pondré consejos en mi alma, Con tristezas en mi corazón cada día? ¿Hasta cuándo será enaltecido mi enemigo sobre mi?” (Salmos 13:1-2)

Dios es real, sienta lo que sienta. Es fácil adorar a Dios cuando las cosas van de maravillas en nuestras vidas. Cuando El ha proveído alimento, amigos, familia, salud y situaciones felices. Pero las circunstancias no son siempre placenteras. ¿Cómo hace para adorar a Dios cuando eso pasa? ¿Qué hace cuando Dios parece estar a un millón de millas de distancia? El nivel más profundo de adoración es alabar a Dios a pesar del dolor, darle gracias durante la prueba, confiar en Él cuando es tentado, entregarse a Él cuando está sufriendo y amarlo cuando parece distante.

Las amistades a menudo son probadas por la separación y el silencio; cuando están separadas por la distancia física o porque no se pueden hablar. En su  relación con Dios, no se sentirá siempre cercano a Él. Cualquier relación envuelve tiempos de intimidad y tiempos de distanciamiento y en una relación con Dios, no importa qué tan íntima sea, el péndulo se mueve de un lado a otro. Ahí es cuando la adoración se hace difícil.

Para profundizar su relación, Dios lo prueba con períodos de aparente separación, tiempos cuando se siente como que si El lo ha abandonado o se ha olvidado de usted. Se siente como que si Dios está a un millón de millas. Se refirió a estos días de sequía espiritual, duda y separación de Dios como "la noche oscura del alma." Otros se refirieron a ellos como "el invierno del corazón".

David fue probablemente el que tuvo la relación más intima con Dios sin par. Dios se complació en llamarlo “un varón conforme a mi corazón.” Sin embargo, David frecuentemente se quejaba de la aparente ausencia de Dios. Por supuesto, Dios en realidad no había abandonado a David y El tampoco lo abandonará a usted. Repetidamente El ha prometido: "Nunca te dejaré ni te abandonaré." Pero Dios no ha prometido: “Siempre sentirás mi presencia.” De hecho, Dios admite que algunas veces El esconde su rostro de nosotros. Hay tiempos en que parecerá como que se desaparece completamente de su vida.

Si despierta una mañana y todos sus sentimientos espirituales se le han ido, ¿Que va hacer? Ora pero nada pasa. Reprende al diablo pero eso no cambia nada. Hace sus ejercicios espirituales, le pide a sus amigos que oren por usted, confiesa todos los pecados que se pueda imaginar y después se va a pedirle perdón a toda persona que conoce. Se pone a ayunar y aún así, nada. Comienza a preguntarse cuánto tiempo va a durar esta depresión espiritual. ¿Días, semanas, meses, cuándo se va a acabar? Siente como que si sus oraciones simplemente rebotan del techo. En total desesperación usted solloza, ¿qué me pasa?

¡La verdad es que no hay nada malo con usted! Es una parte normal de la prueba y de la profundización de su relación con Dios. Todo creyente pasa por esto al menos una vez en su vida. Es doloroso y desconcertante, pero es absolutamente vital para el desarrollo de su fe. Saber esto le dio a Job esperanza cuando no podía sentir la presencia de Dios en su vida. Él dijo, "Voy hacia el este, pero él no está allí. Voy hacia el oeste, pero no lo puedo encontrar. No lo veo en el norte porque él está escondido. Me vuelvo al sur pero no lo puedo encontrar. Pero él sabe dónde voy. Y cuando él me haya probado como oro en el fuego, me pronunciará inocente" (Job 23:8-10).

Cuando Dios parece distante, puede que sienta que El está enojado con usted o que lo está disciplinando por algún pecado. De hecho, el pecado sí nos desconecta de la comunión íntima con Dios. Pero muy a menudo este sentimiento de abandono o de separación de Dios no tiene nada que ver con el pecado. Es una prueba de fe, una que todos tenemos que enfrentar: ¿Va usted a continuar amando, confiando, obedeciendo y adorando a Dios, aún cuando no percibe Su presencia o tiene evidencia visible que está obrando en su vida?

El error más común que la gente cometen hoy en la adoración es que buscan una experiencia en lugar de buscar a Dios. Buscan un sentimiento, y si ocurre entonces concluyen que han adorado. ¡Esto es erróneo! De hecho, Dios a menudo remueve nuestros sentimientos para que no dependamos de ellos. Buscar un sentimiento, aún si es el de sentir la cercanía de Dios, no es adoración.

 

 

 

WHY DOES GOD HIDE HIMSELF

“How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? Forever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?”(Psalm 13:1-2)

God is real, no matter how or what you feel. It is easy to worship God when things are going good in our life when He has provided food, friends, family, health, and happy situations. But circumstances are not always pleasant. What do you do to worship God when this happens? What do you do when God seems to be a million miles away? The deepest level of worship is to praise God in spite of the pain, to thank him during times of trials, to trust in Him when you are tempted, to surrender to Him when you are suffering, and to love Him when He seems distant.

Friendships are often tested by separation and silence; when you are separated by physical distance or because you are not able to speak to each other. In your relationship with God, you will not always feel close to Him. Every relationship has its times of intimacy and times of separation and in a relationship with God, it does not matter how intimate it may be, the pendulum moves from one side to the other. It is here that worship is difficult.

To deepen your relationship, God tests you with periods of apparent separation, times when it feels as if He has abandoned you or has forgotten you. It feels as if He is a million miles away. These days of spiritual drought, doubt, and separation of God are referred to as "the dark night of the soul." Others call it "the winter of the heart".

David was probably the one that had the most intimate relationship with God without equal. God took pleasure in calling him "a man after mine own heart." Nevertheless, David frequently complained about the apparent absence of God. Of course, God had not actually abandon David and He will not leave you either. Repeatedly He has promised: “I will never leave you nor abandon you.” But God has not promised: “You will always feel my presence." In fact, God admits that sometimes He does hide His face from us. There are times in which it will seem as if He has disappeared completely from your life.

If you wake up one morning and all your spiritual feelings are gone, what are you going to do? You pray, but nothing happens. You rebuke the devil but that doesn’t change anything. You do your spiritual exercises, you ask your friends to pray for you, you confess all the sins that you can possibly imagine, and then you go and apologize to every person you know. You fast and even then, nothing happens. You begin to ask yourself, how long is this depression going to last. Days, weeks, months, when is it going to end? You feel as if your prayers simply bounce off the ceiling. In total desperation, you sob: “what’s happening to me?”

The truth is that there is nothing wrong with you! It is a normal part of the testing and of the deepening of your relationship with God. Every believer goes through this at least once in his life. It is painful and disconcerting, but it is absolutely vital for the development of your faith. To know this, gave Job hope when he could not feel the presence of God in his life. He said, “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:8-10).

When God seems distant, it is possible that you feel that He is angry with you or that He is disciplining you for some sin. In fact, sin does disconnect us from intimate communion with God. But very often this feeling of abandonment or of God's separation has nothing in common with sin. It is a testing of faith, one that we all have to face. Are you going to keep on loving, trusting, obeying, and worshiping God, even if you do not perceive His presence or have visible evidence that He is acting in your life?

The most common error that people commit today in worshiping is that they look for an experience instead of looking for God. They look for a feeling, and if it happens they then conclude that they have worshiped. This is erroneous! In fact, God often removes our feelings so that we do not depend on them. To look for a feeling, even if it is to feel God's closeness, is not worship.

 

 

REJECTION

“For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” (Isaiah 53:2-3)

We have all experienced rejection in our lives at one time or another. Those times when, for no apparent reason, someone turned against us or made some thoughtless comment.

Some of life's most painful rejection comes from childhood experiences. Rejection suffered in our early years often sets the tone for a person's entire life. Whenever someone that we hold in esteem, such as a parent or close friend rejects us, feelings of being unloved, unworthy, useless, or insignificant can arise. God never intended for us to struggle with feelings of low self-esteem or rejection. Instead, He wants us to understand that we have value and worth not because of who we are in this world, but because He created us and we belong to Him. (Psalms 100:3).

Learning the correct way to respond to rejection is essential if we are to experience the joy and peace that God wants us to have in our lives.

In Genesis, God said: "… Let Us make man in Our image …" (Genesis 1:26). A basic truth in handling rejection is that you know that you were made in the image of God. Nothing can separate us from His love and care. People struggling with feelings of deep rejection find it hard to imagine how God can love them so easily. But, our worth is not based on a human scale. It is based on God's unconditional love.

When you accept His death on the cross as payment for your sins (John 3:16), you become a child of God. You are grafted into His family, and your life has eternal worth. (Romans 11:17). There is nothing you can do to become more worthy. And there is nothing anyone can say about you that will cancel God's love for you.

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF REJECTION IN OUR LIVES?

Unfortunately, we cannot shield ourselves from rejection. Rejection is only destructive when we internalize it and allow it to creep into our belief system. Satan loves to fuel the fires of low self-esteem with periodic forms of rejection, for example; a boss you can never please, a parent who only praises straight A's on your report card or a friend who ignores you at a party.

We cannot avoid rejection because we cannot control the way people feel about us. Some will like us automatically; others may reject us without reason. But, it is when we fail to accept ourselves, that rejection has an open door to our emotions.

The results are disastrous, a sense of unworthiness, a lack of self-acceptance, and an inability to build healthy relationships. We feel unworthy and we think others see us in the same way. If left unchecked, rejection will control our attitudes, actions, and even our relationship with God and others.

Manipulation and a desire to control others are key instruments of a person who feels rejected. Many times when a person rejects you, they want you to perform a certain way. By using rejection, they manipulate you until your actions line up with their desires.

The only way to combat rejection is to gain a strong understanding of your worth. Who you are, is not determined by those around you. Anytime you base your self-worth on what other people say about you, you set yourself up for rejection. You have to learn to like yourself and accept yourself for who you are. You are unique.

In his first epistle, Peter writes to a group of believers struggling with persecution and deep rejection. Trying to instill a sense of hope in those who will read his letter, Peter tells them of their value in the kingdom of God: I Peter 2:10 “Once you were nobody. Now you are God’s people. At one time no one had pity on you. Now God has treated you with kindness.”

WHAT ARE SOME FACTS THAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT REJECTION?

There are many characteristics that can help identify when a person is struggling with feelings of rejection. Rejection is a result of basic human needs not being met. For example, each of us has the basic need to be accepted. The following are some characteristics that are common in rejection.

1. Fear of opinions of others                                                  

2. Feelings of inferiority         

3. Perfectionism                                                                      

4. Suspicious of anything nice done for you

5. Difficulty in trusting God                                                   

6. Difficulty in trusting others

7. Severe depression and thoughts of suicide                         

8. Over-emphasis on material values

9. Self-verification — seeking proof of self-worth                 

10. Over-emphasis on dress and appearance

11. Anger                                                                                

12. A critical spirit

13. Domineering appearance                                                  

14. Self-imposed isolation

WHAT CAUSES REJECTION?

There are many causes for rejection. A thoughtless, seemingly harmless word spoken by a parent can be perceived in such a way that we experience a lifetime of rejection. Obvious forms of rejection include mental, physical, and sexual.

Divorce is a leading cause of rejection. Many divorced people find it difficult to begin life over after a divorce. They struggle with feelings of failure and low self-esteem. A death or abandonment of a parent also leads to feelings of rejection. The guilt of past failures and the criticism of others are avenues of rejection. ¿What major events in your life have caused you to experience rejection?

We are the only ones who can stop the horrible effects of rejection. While God provides the spiritual tools, we must choose to use them. Anytime rejection gains a foothold in our lives, our self-esteem suffers. We find it hard to forgive ourselves and others. Instead, we hold grudges because someone said a thoughtless remark.

Feelings of resentfulness and bitterness from a lack of forgiveness only feed a poor self-image. Ask God to show you the people you need to forgive. They may have hurt you deeply; but by forgiving them, you are freeing yourself to receive God's forgiveness and restoration in your own life.

HOW CAN WE DEAL WITH REJECTION?

Dealing successfully with rejection requires honesty and a willingness to get to the root of the problem which is a poor view of our self-worth. We can never base our worth as a person on the opinion of others. If we do, we are sure to suffer disappointment and rejection.

Only God can meet all your needs. He is you're all in all in every situation. You belong to Him. You hold a special place in His heart; He loves you and cares for you. 

Jesus knew that after His death there would be long, dark moments of confusion and persecution for His disciples. Therefore, He prepared a way for them to sense His presence forever. They never had to lose their sense of belonging because He sent His Spirit, the comforter, to them.

The word comforter in the New Testament means to come alongside another, to offer aid, to be a defense and an advocate. Jesus was this to His disciples. He left them and us with the eternal gift of His Spirit that we might know we are never alone. He tells us in Matthew 28:20: “I will be with you always.”

John 15:16 tells us that God has personally chosen you. Isaiah 49:16 says that your name is etched in the palms of His hands. He promises to be your strength your sufficiency and your redeemer.

We are capable to work, live, and enjoy life because of the power that is ours in Jesus Christ. The next time rejection comes:

1. Identify the source of the rejection and the accompanying feelings.

2. Reaffirm your position as to who you are. Tell God exactly what you are feeling. Know that He understands the heartache of rejection and He will use every trial to draw you closer to Him.

3. Recall the unchanging truth that you are unconditionally loved, accepted, and complete in Christ.

Jesus suffered the ultimate form of rejection. He was mock; spat on, threatened, and finally put to death. His entire life was a sacrificial offering of forgiveness, acceptance, and unconditional love. Yet everywhere He went, He faced rejection. But man's view of Him never altered His focus. It could never damage what He knew to be true. Victory over the world's rejection was His. He did not need the world's approval.

Always remember that God loves and cares for you. The victory is yours the minute you apply the truths of God's Word to your life. You don't need the approval of the world or its favor. All you will ever need has been provided for you through Jesus Christ. You can rest in His sufficiency and be content in knowing that His grace is forever yours.

As you draw closer to Him, He will change you and sand away those rough areas of your life. But He will never reject you. When you come to Him, you will find the joy and happiness that you are longing for. In Him, you can always be confident of His love and acceptance.

 

EL RECHAZO

                                                    

“Subira cual renuevo delante de el, y como raíz de tierra seca; no hay parecer en Él, ni hermosura; le veremos, mas sin atractivo para que le deseemos. Despreciado y desechado entre los hombres, varón de dolores, experimentado en quebranto; y como que escondimos de Él el rostro, fue menospreciado, y no lo estimamos.” (Isaías 53:2-3)

Todos hemos experimentado el rechazo en un tiempo u otro en nuestras vidas. Esos tiempos cuando, por ninguna razón evidente, alguien se voltea en contra nosotros o hacen un comentario cruel.

Algunos de los rechazos más dolorosos en la vida vienen de experiencias que pasamos cuando éramos niños. El rechazo sufrido en los años tempranos a menudo establece el tono para la vida entera de una persona. Cuando alguien quien tenemos en estima, tal como un pariente o un buen amigo nos rechaza, pueden surgir sentemos de que no somos amados, que somos indignos, inútil, o insignificantes. Nunca fue la intención de Dios que lucharemos con sentimientos de baja auto-estima o rechazo. En cambio, Él quiere que entendamos que tenemos valor y somos importantes, no por quien somos en este mundo, pero, debido a que Él nos creó y pertenecemos a Él. (Salmos 100:3).

Aprendiendo como responder al rechazo correctamente es esencial si vamos a experimentar el gozo y la paz que Cristo quiere que tengamos en nuestras vidas.   

En Génesis, Dios dijo, “Hagamos al hombre a nuestra imagen…” (1:26). Una verdad básica para tratar con el rechazo es recordarnos que somos hecho en la imagen de Dios. Nada nos puede separarnos de Su amor y cuidado. Las personas que luchan con sentimientos profundos de rechazo se les hace difícil imaginar como es que Dios les puede amar tan fácilmente. Pero nuestro valor no se basa en una escala humana. Se basa en el amor incondicional de Dios.

Cuando acepta Su muerte en la cruz como pago por sus pecados (Juan 3:16), se vuelve en un hijos de Dios. Usted se une a Su familia, y ahora su vida tiene un valor eterno (Rom. 11:17). No hay nada más que usted  pueda hacer para ser más digno. Y, no hay nada que alguien puede decir de usted  que cancelara el amor de Dios para usted.

¿QUE SON LOS EFECTOS DEL RECHAZO EN NUESTRA VIDA?

Desafortunadamente, no nos podemos escudarnos del rechazo. El rechazo es destructivo solo cuando lo hacemos interno y le permitimos que tome un lugar en nuestro sistema de creencia. A Satanás le encanta echarle más combustible, periódicamente a los fuegos de sentimientos de bajo-estima con diferentes formas de rechazo, por ejemplo; un jefe que nunca puedes agradar, un padre que solo alaba cuando saca buen calificaciones, o un amigo que lo ignora cuando están en una fiesta.

No podemos evitar el rechazo porque no podemos controlar la manera que la gente se siente de nosotros. Algunos nos van a querer automáticamente; otros nos rechazaran sin razón. Pero, es cuando dejamos de aceptarnos a nosotros mismos, que el rechazo tiene una puerta abierta a nuestras emociones.

Los resultados son desastrosos, un sentido de indignidad, una falta de aceptación de sí mismo, y una incapacidad de formar relaciones saludables. Nos sentimos indignos y pensamos que otros nos ven de la misma manera. Si se deja la cosa así, el rechazo va controla sus actitudes, acciones, y también su relación con Dios y otros.

La manipulación y el deseo de controlar a otros son los instrumentos claves de una persona quien se siente rechazado. Muchas veces cuando una persona lo rechaza, ellos quieren que usted actúe de cierta manera. Por usar el rechazo, lo manipulan hasta que tus acciones están de acuerdo con sus deseos.

La única manera de combatir el rechazo es comprender su posición en Jesucristo. Su valor, y quien eres, no es determinado por esos alrededor de usted. Cuando usted basa su valor propio en lo que otros dicen de usted, usted mismo se está poniendo en un lugar de posible rechazamiento. Usted tiene que aprender amarse a si mismo y aceptarse por quien eres. Usted es único.

En Su Primera Epístola, Pedro escribe a un grupo de creyentes que luchaban con la persecución y el rechazo profundo. Tratando de instilar un sentido de esperanza en esos que leerán su carta, Pedro les dice de su valor en el reino de Dios: I Pedro2:10 “Ustedes antes no eran nadie, pero ahora son pueblo de Dios, ustedes no habían alcanzado su misericordia, mas ahora han conocido su misericordia.”

ALGUNOS PONTOS IMPORTANTES QUE DEBERIAMOS SABER DEL RECHAZO

Hay muchas características que pueden ayudarnos identificar cuando una persona esta luchando con sentimientos de rechazo. El rechazo resulta cuando las necesidades básicas humanas no se satisfacen. Por ejemplo, todos tenemos la necesitad básica de ser aceptados. Estos son unos de las características que son comunes al rechazo.  

1. El miedo de opiniones de otros.                                                     

2. Sentimientos de inferioridad

3. Perfeccionismo                                                                              

4. Sospechoso de toda cosa buena hecho para Ud.

5. Dificultad en confiar en Dios                                                       

6. Dificultad en confiar en otros.

7. Depresión severa y pensamientos de suicidio                                 

8. Mucho énfasis en valores materiales

9. La verificación misma que busca prueba de su mismo valor.                                

10. El enojo.

11. Sobre énfasis en el vestido y apariencia.                                       

12. Un espíritu crítico.

13. Apariencia dominante.                                                                

14. Aislamiento impuesto por sí mismo.

¿QUE OCASIONA EL RECHAZO?

Las causas del rechazo varían. Una palabra dicha  por un padre sin pensar, se puede percibir en tal manera que experimentamos una vida de rechazo. Formas obvias de rechazo incluyen mental, físico, y sexual.  El divorcio es una causa principal de rechazo. Muchas personas que se han divorciado encuentran que es difícil comenzar otra vez sus vidas. Luchan con sentimientos de fracaso y baja auto-estima. Una muerte o el abandono de un padre también conducen a sentimientos de rechazo. La culpabilidad de fracasos pasados y la crítica de otos son las avenidas de rechazo. ¿Qué eventos importantes en su vida han ocasionado que usted experimente rechazo?

Nosotros somos los únicos que podemos parar los efectos horribles del rechazo. Mientras Dios proporciona las herramientas espirituales, debemos escoger usarlos. En cualquier momento que dejamos que el rechazo establezca una posición en nuestras vidas, nuestra auto-estima sufre. Encontramos que es  difícil perdonarnos a nosotros mismos y a otros. En cambio, retenemos recorres porque alguien dijo algo que nos ofendió o lastimo.

Los sentimientos de resentimiento y amargura de una falta de perdón  solo alimentan una imagen pobre de si mismo. Pida a Dios que le muestre la gente que usted necesita perdonar. Tal vez, le han lastimado profundamente pero en perdonarlos, te estás librando para recibir el perdón de Dios y restauración en su propia vida.

¿COMO SE PUEDE TRATAR EL RECHAZO?

Para tratar con éxito el rechazo se requiere honestidad y una buena voluntad de llegar a la raíz del problema que es una opinión pobre de nuestro mismo valor. Nunca podemos basar nuestro valor en la opinión de otros. Si lo hacemos, seguramente sufriremos desilusión y rechazo.

Solo Dios puede satisfacer todas sus necesidades. Él es su todo en total en cada situación. Usted pertenece a Él. Usted ocupa un lugar especial en Su corazón, Él te ama y tiene cuidado de usted.

Jesús sabía que después de Su muerte habría largo, momentos oscuros de confusión y persecución para Sus discípulos. Por lo tanto, Él preparo una manera que ellos pudieran sentir Su presencia siempre. Ellos nunca tenían que perder su sentido de pertenecer, porque Él envió Su Espíritu, el consolador, a ellos.

La palabra “consolador” en el Nuevo Testamento significa “estar al lado de uno,” ofrecer asistencia, ser una defensa y un abogado.  Jesús era esto a Sus discípulos. Él les dejo a ellos y a nosotros con el don eterno de Su Espíritu para que podemos saber que nunca estamos solos. El nos dice in Mateo 28:20: “He aquí yo estoy con vosotros todos los días, hasta el fin.”  En  San Juan 15:16 nos dice que Dios nos ha elegido personalmente. Isaías 49:16 dice que tu nombre esta esculpida en las palmas de Sus manos. Él promete ser su fortaleza, su suficiencia y su redentor.

Somos capaces para trabajar, vivir, y disfrutar la vida a cause del poder que es nuestro en Jesucristo. La próxima vez que sienta el rechazo:

1. Identifique la fuente del rechazo y los sentimientos que le acompañan.

2. Reafirme su posición con respecto a quién eres. Dígale a Dios exactamente lo que sientes. Sepa que Él comprende su dolor de rechazo y Él usara cada prueba para acercarlo más a Él.

3. Recuerde la verdad inmutable que usted es amado incondicionalmente, aceptado, y completo en  Cristo.

Jesús sufrió la forma última de rechazo. Él fue mofado; fue escupido, amenazado y finalmente puesto a muerte. Su vida entera era una ofrenda de sacrificio, de perdón, aceptación, y amor incondicional. Todavía aún por donde quiera que Él fuera, se enfrentaba con rechazo. Pero la opinión que los hombres tenían de Él nunca alteró Su enfoque. Nunca pudo dañar lo que Él sabía que era verdad. La victoria sobre el rechazo del mundo era de Él. Él no necesitaba la aprobación del mundo.

Siempre recuerde que Dios lo ama y tiene cuidado de usted. La victoria es suya el momento que usted aplica las verdades de la Palabra de Dios a su vida. Usted no necesita la aprobación del mundo ni su favor. Todo lo que usted siempre necesitara se ha provisto para usted mediante Jesucristo. Usted puede descansar en Su suficiencia y estar contento en saber que Su gracia es para siempre suya.

Mientras usted se acerca más a Él, Él lo cambiara y lijara de usted esas áreas ásperas de su vida.  Pero Él nunca lo rechazara. Cuando usted viene a Él, usted encontrara la alegría y felicidad que anhela. En Él usted puede siempre estar seguro de Su amor y aceptación.