He was not accepted by all

Mercy over judgment 

Some accepted Jesus, while others did not. Luke 9:51-56 tells quite an interesting story in regard to Jesus’s presence being unwelcomed in certain places. As He sets out for Jerusalem, He passes through a Samaritan village, but the villagers do not want Him there. They reject Him because He is headed to Jerusalem. In response, two of His disciples, James and John, ask if they should call down fire from heaven to destroy the entire village. However, Jesus rebukes them, emphasizing His mission of mercy and compassion, not judgment, and they continue on to another village. Quite a powerful story that shows  His commitment to His purpose - “For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” He refused vengeance in favor of grace and understanding. He’s committed to love and forgiveness, even in the face of rejection. 

I believe God has brought this to my attention because we live in a culture where people have become increasingly self-centered and entitled. Unfortunately, this spirit of entitlement has even affected some of the men and women God has called. Many approach ministry with a spirit of entitlement. They think that because God has called and anointed them, everyone should accept their message or follow their directives. However, even Jesus, the all-powerful Son of God, faced resistance and unbelief.

Building Trust in Ministry 

In his letter to the Colossians, Saint Paul asks believers to pray that God would open doors for him and his companions to minister the gospel (Colossians 4:3). In fact, he urges the Corinthians to open their hearts to them, assuring them that they have wronged no one, corrupted no one, and exploited no one (2 Corinthians 7:2). The integrity and sincerity of Paul and his companions in their ministry, helped build a relationship of trust with the believers. People are more likely to listen to and follow someone they trust.  They operated with the understanding that it is God who opens the door for us to minister. Moreover, in the book of Acts it is said of Lydia that “The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” (16:14) For us to minister, hearts must be opened first, and that is something only God can do. 

We have exploited no one …

Many people have left Christian organizations or churches feeling exploited or taken advantage of, which can be a deeply distressing experience. I have seen many passionate Christian ministers, including myself, become discouraged when they felt their talents and gifts were being misused. I have witnessed pastors and preachers react with manipulation, anger, or impatience toward church members and volunteers when things did not go their way. Leaders must remember that these individuals, whether they are worship leaders or ushers, are, first and foremost, souls with their own will, emotions, and intellect. They are God's children, each working out their own salvation.

Looking closely at Jesus' relationship with His disciples, we see how He patiently and faithfully cared for their souls. In John 15, He calls them His friends, reflecting the deep intimacy He shared with them. He fervently prayed for Peter’s faith when Satan sought to attack him. His profound impact on His disciples was so great that today the world is filled with believers because of their testimony, forming a global community of Christ’s followers built on the Apostles' witness. If we tend to the souls, then the ministry will thrive on its own. 

Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up 

To truly minister to others and touch their souls like Jesus did, we need the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:4-6). Knowledge alone cannot build lives; if we want to truly impact people, we must understand the power of love, patience, and forbearance. “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” (1 Corinthians 8:1) 

Too often, I encounter people who are deeply fascinated by the pursuit of knowledge, eager to impress with their reasoning and be known for their intellect. If our goal is simply to build a name or a title for ourselves and impress, accumulating knowledge may seem important to us. But we will not impact lives, strengthen marriages, and build deep, meaningful relationships, and strong communities unless we understand the importance of cultivating love and humility. 1 Corinthians 13 reminds us that knowledge will fade, but love will endure forever. Those who love fulfill the entire law. Love fulfills the law ! (Romans 13:8-10)

Jesus’ experience of being rejected in some places reminds us that not everyone will accept our message or ministry, no matter how genuine or divinely inspired it may be. His response to rejection was not one of anger or retaliation, but of grace, mercy, and continued commitment to His mission of saving lives. As ministers, we must avoid a sense of entitlement and instead adopt a spirit of humility and patience, trusting that it is God who opens hearts and doors. By focusing on love and integrity, we build trust and reflect Christ's own compassionate approach, knowing that true ministry thrives when it is led by the Spirit and rooted in love, even in the face of resistance.