Rejection and the A-list God

Today: 1 Samuel 4-8

Rejection is not fun. If you've ever "put yourself out there" to attend your dream college or land a dream job, girl/guy, role or home--only to be rejected--you know what I'm talking about.

I've had a few interesting conversations with friends over the years that touched on this topic. One time, I was with a small group of Christian guys and girls where some of the girls were lamenting, "What is it with Christian guys?!? They're surrounded by these incredible Christian women, but they just don't ask them out..."

"Guys hate rejection," one of the married guys spoke up.

His statement was simple, but in some ways took me by surprise...not because I hadn't heard or thought it before, but because the guy speaking was an A-list guy. You know who I'm talking about--a guy who is simultaneously committed to God, good looking, friendly, well-mannered, etc. This guy is probably one of those people who was always surrounded by packs of girls at school and church his entire life. When he said it, my first thought was, "You were once afraid of being hurt or rejected?!? Who in her right mind would turn you down?"

It sounded crazy. But today's passage describes a rejection even more tragic--God's people rejecting His leadership in their lives. Take a look:

They presented their case:

"Look, you're an old man,

and your sons aren't following in your footsteps.

Here's what we want you to do:

Appoint a king to rule us, just like everybody else."
When Samuel heard their demand—"Give us a king to rule us!"—

he was crushed.

How awful!

Samuel prayed to God.
God answered Samuel, "Go ahead and do what they're asking.

They are not rejecting you.

They've rejected me as their King.

From the day I brought them out of Egypt

until this very day they've been behaving like this,

leaving me for other gods.

And now they're doing it to you.

So let them have their own way..."

Who could be any more A-list than our God?

In fact, A-list doesn't even come close to describing Him--He's perfection itself. I don't think God fears our rejection, but I know that it hurts Him. God gave His everything to love us, to be with us for eternity. Yet sometimes we reject His leadership in pursuit of Z-list things--money, our selfish desires, bad habits, etc.

The rationale of the people in this passage was also really lame. They said, "Appoint a king to rule us just like everybody else." It's goofy logic, because ultimately, who really wants to be just like everybody else? Most of us want to live a life of significance. People who live significant lives don't follow the crowds. I believe that the best way to live a significant life is to embrace and surrender to God's leadership in your life.

Tomorrow: 1 Samuel 9-12

He liked what he saw

Today: Genesis 4-7

They met in a school hallway.
And he liked what he saw.

They were friends at work.
And he liked what he saw.

They were on the same team.
And he liked what he saw.

How many times have you heard stories like this--typically about a romance or a "love at first sight" moment?

I don't know if love at first sight is possible, but I think it's possible that sight itself can be different from what we think. If you took the scenarios above at a basic level, they were about a guy who physically saw a girl he found attractive.

But what if the guy in the school hallway saw the girl laughing with her friends and thought her happy, joy-filled spirit was stunning? What if the guy at work saw the girl wow her clients by excelling at a project? And what if the guy on the team saw the girl who always encouraged the people around her?

There are people who see you and me and there are people who see you and me.

God definitely tends to choose the latter form of sight. I love what it said about his view of Noah in today's passage:

God liked what he saw in Noah.

This is the story of Noah:

Noah was a good man,

a man of integrity in his community.

Noah walked with God.

These are simple words, actually...but I would be really proud if God said those kinds of things about me. Does God like what He sees in us?

The real guy-God in the cupboards

Today: Luke 23-24

Most gods fit on peoples' shelves or in their shrines. They're statues. They're hollow. They're made of gold, silver, ceramic or cement.

There are other gods that seem highly spiritual. Some people worship...well, spirits, energies, the Earth, ghosts, you name it.

While God is definitely a spirit, I also love that He was also once a real guy-God. As I read the story of Jesus' death and resurrection today for the third time in about a month (yup, we just finished our third Gospel today!), this is what stood out to me:

Jesus appeared to them and said,

"Peace be with you."

They thought they were seeing a ghost

and were scared half to death.

He continued with them,

"Don't be upset,

and don't let all these doubting questions take over.

Look at my hands; look at my feet

—it's really me. Touch me.

Look me over from head to toe.

A ghost doesn't have muscle and bone like this."

If you read the passage with me today, do you remember what happened next?

I never noticed it before, but it actually made me smile and just think how real, how cool Jesus really is. Here's what it says:

He asked, "Do you have any food here?"

They gave him a piece of leftover fish they had cooked.

He took it and ate it right before their eyes.

I think it's actually kind of funny this little scene made it into the Bible. I mean, really? How important is it for us to know that Jesus ate some leftovers after His resurrection?

But as I read this, it struck me as one example of how real...how normal...He is. In the midst of one of the biggest supernatural events in history, He sounds like a typical guy hanging out with His friends saying, "Hey! Do you have anything I could eat?"

The disciples don't even think twice about offering Him leftovers--another fact I find interesting.

I don't know about you, but when most of my friends come to visit, I don't offer them leftovers. I make an extra effort for my guests...except for the friends who are truly like family. If those friends are visiting, I prepare some special meals for them or take them out to dinner. But I'll also show them around my refrigerator, pantry and cupboards and say, "Feel free to take anything you'd like. You know the ropes--this is your home."

When Jesus appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, they witnessed a major miracle. They believed that He was the Messiah and God in flesh...but they also saw Him as their close and trusted friend. He was the friend who didn't expect the fuss (even though He probably deserves it more than anyone!). He was real. He fit with them--and was close enough to know His way around their cupboards.

Tomorrow: John 1-2