SEABISCUIT... a weekly devotion

In the movie SEABISCUIT, one of the most memorable lines describes both the horse and the people who cared for it.: "You don't just throw a life away because it's banged up a bit." That line in the movie voices not only the central theme of the movie but also a central theme of scripture.

WHAT DO WE DO WITH BANGED UP LIVES?

In the movie...Seabiscuit is a race horse going nowhere. He has been beaten and whipped. Eventually he turned lame. But several of the characters see this horse as a metaphor for themselves and for others who have "banged up" lives in the midst of the Great Depression. After tender care and meticulous training, Seabiscuit turns into one of the greatest race horses of all times. Another great line from the movie said this..."We all thought we were saving him, but in the end, he saved us."

We can read in Isaiah, chapter 53 of another story of one who was whipped and beaten, but who in the end saved us!

ISAIAH 53:4,5 "Yet He Himself bore our sicknessess, and He carried our pains; but we in turn regarded Him stricken, struck down by God and afflicted. (5) But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds."

Jesus Christ was whipped and beaten and crucified; but God used His pain to bring redemption from sin. Isaiah 53 is the most complete prophecy of what Christ's mission became. It also serves as a reminder to Christians of how we can understand our own suffering as we seek to be servant leaders following after Christ.

The molding years of rejection often times happen around junior high age. This is the time that hormones are kicking in and being accepted and liked by our peers is the most important thing on our "to do" list.

Last week I polled the blog readers "In junior high, what part of your appearance did you feel might make people reject you?" The top three answers...

72% of those polled said they feared their WEIGHT would bring rejection

9% voted ACNE or CROOKED TEETH would cause their peers to reject them

9% also voted that their HAIR would bring rejection in junior high

Everyone experiences times of rejection. The question is WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE FEEL REJECTED? If you read Isaiah 53, you can see that Christ knew what it was like to be rejected: (verse 3) "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sufferings who knew what sickness was. He was like one people turned away from; He was despised, and we didn't value Him."

The greatest tragedy of history came when the Son of God entered the world and humankind rejected and crucified Him instead of welcoming Him.

JOHN 1:10:11 "He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him."

Because Jesus experienced this kind of rejection, He can understand when we are rejected. Rejection does not just happen in junior high, for most of us, we will experience rejection of some kind throughout our lifetime on earth.

JESUS CHRIST - "If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hate you. If you were of the world, the world would love (you as) its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, this is why the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you: 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecute Me, they will persecute you."

HAVE YOU BEEN REJECTED BECAUSE OF YOUR FAITH?

* by your family?

* by your friends?

* by your co-workers?

When our personal faith causes us to face rejection, we cannot take it personally. A servant leader takes on the life perspective "It's not about me". Life as a whole is not about us; but about Christ. Likewise, rejection is not about us; it is about the world's rejection of Christ.

I encourage you, even in a state of rejection, keep on sharing the Good News, Keep on sharing God's love and keep on praying for your unsaved loved ones! "You don't throw away a life just because it is banged up a bit." Jesus died for all, even those that are rejecting you and rejecting Him.

DEAR LORD, HELP US TO NOT GIVE UP ON THOSE WHO ARE LOST!

Thank you for joining me in this week's devotion. It is my prayer that it has challenged your heart to seek more of Him this week!

Blessings, Laurie