When you feel rejected and unworthy . . . run to Jesus!

In a first Century culture, men were valued, women less so, and children were to be seen and not heard.

One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.

Luke 18:15

It wasn’t unusual for mothers to bring their children to a rabbi for a blessing. And unfortunately, it wasn’t unusual for the disciples to try to decide if someone was worthy of Jesus’ time.

They wanted to or did send away…

• Hungry crowds in need of a meal.
• A Canaanite woman whose daughter needed healing.
• And these children.

We’re guilty sometimes, aren’t we?

We’re guilty of deciding who is worthy of coming to Jesus. We’re guilty of choosing who’s good enough to worship with us. And some of us have even been judged and considered unworthy ourselves.

But when Jesus saw what the disciples were doing, He said…

Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 

Luke 18:16

He lifted women up. He lifted the poor, the broken, the sick, and the hurting. He loved and accepted those who were rejected and unworthy from every race and background while consistently challenging those who were judgmental, proud, and self-righteous.

You see…

The truth is—no one is worthy of Jesus’ time!

Yet, He loves and receives everyone who comes to Him with humble trusting child-like faith. He calls them His cherished and precious masterpieces. (Ephesians 2:10)

Precious masterpieces who are blessed to be received and made worthy by Him every time they SEEK Him, RELY on Him and TRUST Him.

You and I are not “worthy” on our own but because of His grace, mercy, and love . . . the Lord declares us “worthy” of His time every time we humbly come to Him with child-like faith.

So when you feel rejected and unworthy—run to Jesus!

A Prayer to Be Worthy of Jesus’ Time

Jesus, thank you for caring for the unworthy and rejected. Thank you for loving every single one of us. Thank you for telling us we can come to You anytime. When the world calls us unworthy or someone rejects us . . . You never will. You welcome us with open arms.

Lord, I love you! I am so sorry for my sins that caused Your suffering. And I know that like John the Baptist said, “I am not worthy.” (Matthew 3:11)

But You say, “Come to me.” And You ask me to invite and welcome everyone I meet to “come” as well. By Your grace and with Your Spirit’s help, I will trust and obey. I will run to You when I feel unworthy and I will stand against the enemy when he tempts me to be prideful and judgmental.

Thank you for calling me Your own. Thank you for suffering my punishment and covering me with Your own righteousness so that the Father sees me as “worthy.” Your love overwhelms me. I praise You. I thank You. I love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Amen.

It’s the world’s way to consider some worthy and others unworthy. It’s the enemy’s desire to separate us by gender, race, background, beliefs, economics, education, etc.

But that is NOT the way of Jesus.

Jesus says EVERYONE and ANYONE who humbly comes to Him with humble child-like faith is precious and worthy of His time. To find out more about what it means to be childlike click here and to read all of Luke 18 click here.

On today’s note write:

Because of His love, Jesus declares me “worthy” of His time.

May God bless you as you run to Jesus today.

Thank you so much for joining me today.

And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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