How does a follower of Jesus handle Rejection?

I have been in deep reflection today and I think of the countless of followers of Jesus who have called it quits and hung up their servant towel.  One might think this happens because of isolating themselves from others or feeling like they are all alone.  More often than not its because someone or a group of people simply rejected their viablility as a member of God's church.  They did not really count or it was easier to reject them than to do the hard work of reconciliation.

As I meditate on God's Word this morning, these words really hit home.  Matthew 11:16-19 says,

"But to what shall I liken this generation?  It is like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to their companions, and saying:

We played the flute for you,
and you did not dance;
We mourned to you,
and you did not lament.

For John came neither eating nor drinking and they say, "He has a demon."  The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, "Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend to tax collectors and sinners!'  But wisdom is justified by her children."

There are several striking features from this text.  One is even Jesus and his followers were harshly criticized and rejected.  All of Matthew chapter eleven is in the context of the rejection of John the Baptist and then Jesus and his followers.  The chapter ends with a beautiful invitation from Jesus for all the hurting, oppressed, and struggling people to come to him for he will give them rest to their weary souls.

"How is it with your soul?"  This is one of the major questions a group of Christian leaders ask each other every week in which I am a part of.  Soul care!  Are we really taking care of our souls and what are we feeding our souls?  And what about criticism and rejection?  I find the things we tend to get offended or mad about is quite petty compared to the kind of rejection that Jesus and his disciples experienced.  When is the last time someone has called you "Satan" or "you have a demon?"  When is the last time someone called your moral integrity into question?

And these last words haunt me and stir my soul.  "Wisdom is justified by her children."  Are we going to follow the wisdom of Christ?  Will we be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves?  How we respond to rejection will show the kind of integrity and strength we have or do we fold under pressure?  Are we acting like children of the most High God or are we acting childish or worse, not like a children of God at all?