October 15 | Overcoming Family Rejection

Series | The Overcoming Life

Scripture | Matthew 10:21-22, “21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

Lesson 15 | Family Rejection, “My Family Doesn't Support Me”

One of the most heart breaking things to witness is when a family rejects one of their own because they have decided to follow Jesus.  Times like this remind me of the ole’ song, “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus,” written by Sadhu Sundar Signh.

Sadhu was born into a Sikh family in northern India in 1889.  He was trained as a young boy to be a Sikh, which is a break away religion from Hinduism founded in in the 1500’s, that teaches the belief in one God and an ascetic lifestyle.  However, after his mother died tragically he decided to kill himself but the night before he had a vision of Jesus.  The next day he announced to his family that he was going to be a Christian, but his father disowned him and his brother tried to poison him. 

At 16 years old, after being baptized, he left his home and lived with lepers in a Christian mission.  As a man he was well known all throughout India for traveling like Jesus from village to village preaching the good news of Jesus.  The words to his famous song reflect the cost he had to pay to follow Jesus, “I have decided to follow Jesus… Though none go with me, still I will follow… Will you now decide to follow Jesus? No turning back, no turning back.”

Jesus said in the above passage that a time would come when family members would betray each other for the cause of Christ.  At the same time, Jesus also said in Matthew 10:37-38, “37 Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”

Therefore, the solution to the hurt of being rejected by one’s family is the love and abiding presence of Jesus with the promise of heaven!  If you are hurting because people in your family have rejected you pray this out loud, “Dear Heavenly Father, I ask in the name of Jesus for you to forgive my family and bring them to saving faith in you. I also ask that you will fill my heart with your unconditional love and acceptance. Amen.”

Reflection | Have been rejected or persecuted by your family because of following Jesus?

Action | (1) Repent if have thought about walking away from Jesus because of family troubles. (2) Pray and ask God to save and forgive your family. (3) Lastly, decide to follow Jesus, even if no one else follows- no turning back because Jesus is worth it all, Revelation 12:11!   

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Jeremiah 26:1-27:22, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18, Psalm 85:1-13, & Proverbs 25:16. Click here to read online.