Not Guilty: Love Paid the Price – Part 3

No appeal needed. Don’t reopen a closed case.

Foundational Verse:"Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies..." Romans 8:33–34

Week 3:

Accused of Rejection→ Sealed by Adoption

Welcome back to the courtroom, friend.

Let’s jump right into today’s case the one the enemy tries to use to separate you from your true identity in Christ.

This is Week Three of our Not Guilty series, and by now, I pray it's becoming easier to spot the lies the enemy crafts and reject his false charges against your soul.

Holy Spirit, have Your way. Let this message land on fertile ground. Open our hearts to receive what only You can reveal. Let the weight of Your Word replace the weight of rejection. Rest here with us even in this digital space.

 In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Prefer to listen instead?

 🎧 You can catch this week’s message on the podcast.

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The Docket Is Open

Court is now in session.

Case Title: The Accuser of the Brethren vs. You 

Charge: Rejection 

Filed by: Satan, the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10) 

Location: The spiritual realm

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Exhibit A

The enemy is relentless in replaying every moment where you felt unwanted, overlooked, or dismissed. He whispers lies that echo: “You’re too much… or not enough.”

Whether it was being picked last, excluded from the conversation, abandoned by someone you trusted, or betrayed by someone who should have stayed, rejection leaves a mark.

That’s exactly what the enemy counts on. Because if he can make you believe you’ve been rejected by people, it becomes easier to believe you’ve been rejected by God.

But here’s the truth: 

Your spiritual status was settled long before you were ever left out.

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Case Study #1:

Leah – The Rejection of Unwanted Love

Scripture Reference: Genesis 29

Okay friend, this is the short version but if you’ve read Genesis 29, you know how it goes.

Leah was given to Jacob in marriage, but Jacob didn’t want Leah. He wanted Rachel. That was the deal he made with their father. He worked seven years for Rachel’s hand, only to be deceived into marrying Leah instead.

The whole thing was messy deception, favoritism, broken expectations. But for today, we’re focusing on one wound: the rejection of unwanted love.

Leah was legally Jacob’s wife but not the one he desired. Not the one he dreamed of. Not the one his heart was set on.

Instead of being cherished, Leah lived in the shadow of her sister the one Jacob truly loved. And so, Leah did what many of us still do when rejection settles in: she tried to earn love.

She gave Jacob sons, hoping motherhood would open his heart. Hoping that this time he would see her. This time he would choose her. This time he would love her.

But Scripture tells us Jacob worked even more years still for Rachel. Even after Leah gave him child after child, his affection stayed elsewhere.

That kind of rejection runs deep. It plants shame in secret places. 

It starts to whisper: “If I were enough, this wouldn’t be happening.”

And Leah carried that weight every single day.

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Let’s Break This Case Down

The Accusation: Rejection. The enemy used Leah’s circumstances to press lies into her identity.

What the Enemy Said:

“You’re not enough.”

“You’re second choice.”

“You’ll never be seen for who you really are.”

Shame twisted Leah’s worth into something conditional based on Jacob’s affection and attention. Her value felt like it was on trial, and rejection was the evidence.

She wore the title of “wife” but never felt like one. She lived in a home but not in his heart. 

And shame made her believe that love had to be earned.

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How Leah Responded:

She tried to earn it.

Leah leaned into motherhood hoping that her ability to give Jacob sons would secure his love. Every child’s name was a silent cry for connection.

Reuben – “The Lord has seen my misery.” 

Simeon – “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved.” 

Levi – “Now my husband will become attached to me.” (Genesis 29:32–34)

These weren’t just names they were prayers. Leah wasn’t just birthing sons. She was birthing hope. But that hope was being placed in the wrong place.

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What God Said:

God saw her.

Even when Jacob overlooked her, God did not.

“Because the Lord has seen my misery…” (Genesis 29:32)

Leah felt the sting of rejection from Jacob, but she was never rejected by heaven.

And when she gave birth to her fourth son, something shifted.

“This time I will praise the Lord.” (Genesis 29:35)

She named him Judah and from the tribe of Judah came Jesus.

Right there, in the middle of Leah’s rejection, God was writing redemption.

He didn’t just see her pain He placed her in His plan.

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Reflection:

Have you ever felt like Leah? 

Trying to prove your worth? 

Trying to earn someone’s love? 

Trying to be seen?

You're not alone.

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Spot the Lie:

Lie: If they don’t choose me, I must not be worth much. 

Truth: You’ve already been chosen. And God’s choice is final.

Rejection doesn’t define you. Redemption does.

You are not guilty of being unworthy. You are fully known and deeply loved by a God who does not reject, He adopts.

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Case Study #2:

Mephibosheth – The Rejection of Brokenness

Scripture Reference: 2 Samuel 9

Mephibosheth’s story begins with trauma.

At just five years old, he was dropped by his nurse during a desperate escape after his grandfather Saul and father Jonathan were killed in battle. That one moment left him crippled in both feet and changed the trajectory of his life.

He was royalty by blood, but lived like someone discarded. Forgotten. Hidden. Broken.

Though he was the grandson of a king, Mephibosheth grew up in Lo-Debar a dry, barren place. No access to the palace. No seat at any table. No expectation of a future.

Until one day King David called for him.

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Let’s Break This Case Down

The Accusation: Rejection. The enemy didn’t need a crown to accuse Mephibosheth. He just needed the brokenness to speak for itself.

What the Enemy Said:

“You’re broken.” 

“You’re a burden.” 

“You’re just the leftover of a fallen house.” 

“You don’t belong at the table.”

Shame convinced Mephibosheth that his condition had canceled his calling. His broken body became the banner over his identity.

He believed there was no room for someone like him in the king’s presence. No restoration. No value. No place.

He settled for living small, hiding in the background of a story that once had royal promise.

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How Mephibosheth Responded:

When David summoned him, Mephibosheth didn’t come with confidence. He came limping, carrying not just a physical condition, but a crushed sense of worth.

“What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?” (2 Samuel 9:8)

That’s what rejection does. It doesn’t just wound the body, it rewrites identity.

Mephibosheth didn’t even see himself as a man anymore. He had accepted the lie that brokenness made him less than human.

But the King had a different plan.

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What God Said (Through David):

David didn’t ignore Mephibosheth’s condition. But he didn’t define him by it either.

“Don’t be afraid… I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. You will always eat at my table.” (2 Samuel 9:7)

Mephibosheth wasn’t invited out of pity. He was restored because of covenant.

David was honoring a promise he made to Jonathan. And that promise made room for Mephibosheth to receive:

Land Identity Position Belonging And most importantly, a permanent seat at the king’s table

Grace rewrote the story.

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Key Verse:

“What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?” (2 Samuel 9:8)

But God noticed. And God restored.

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Reflection:

What part of your story has made you feel unworthy of belonging?

Are there places where shame has convinced you that you’re too broken to be seen? Too far gone to be called forward?

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Spot the Lie:

Lie: Your brokenness disqualifies you. 

Truth: God’s covenant is stronger than your condition.

You don’t have to earn your seat at the table. Grace already pulled out the chair. And your name is still on it.

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Reflection

Can you relate to any of these moments?

Rejection doesn’t always show up loud. Sometimes, it hides in silence. In avoidance. In the way we downplay ourselves just to avoid being hurt again.

But friend, it has to be dealt with. Not buried. Not brushed off. Dealt with.

And that begins with honesty.

You don’t have to pretend it didn’t wound you. You don’t have to hide the limp. Healing begins when you open your mouth and tell the truth.

Tell God where it hurts. Let Him step into the places you’ve avoided. Let Him speak truth where the lie of rejection once echoed. You don’t have to stay in Lo-Debar. He’s calling you to the table.

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The Verdict:

Not Guilty. You Belong.

The enemy called you broken. The enemy called you disqualified. The enemy called you forgotten.

But heaven called you by name.

The Judge has ruled. And because of covenant because of grace your seat at the King’s table is secure.

Not because you earned it. Not because you hid your limp. But because Love made a promise and kept it.

Your identity is not tied to the fall. Your story is not limited by what dropped you. Your value is not lost because of what you lost.

The rejection you carried does not overrule the restoration you've received.

The gavel has dropped. The case is closed.

You are not guilty. You are not rejected. You are restored.

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Prayer

Father, thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for adopting me into Your Kingdom and calling me Your child.

Today, I lay rejection at Your feet. I don’t want to carry it anymore.

Come into every hidden place. Touch the wounds I’ve tried to ignore. Speak truth over every lie I’ve believed. Write Your promises on my heart and remind me of who I am in You.

I believe Your Word is true. I believe You are the God who restores. And I receive Your love today, completely.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Next Week on the Docket

We’ve faced the charge of rejection. Next week, we’re uncovering another strategy of the enemy, Unworthy.