Daily Devotional

-May 28, 2021-

Good morning, happy Friday,

-Empathizing With Our Brethren-

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”

Romans 12:15).

The concept of empathy goes back to the NT. In the early days of the church people were being saved: Jews and Gentiles, men and women, rich and poor, slaves and freemen. Their backgrounds were vastly different, but the common denominator was: salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. They loved one another and were one body in Christ.

The Merriam Webster on line Dictionary defines the word empathy as, “The action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner.” It is a very important part of Christian living.

The difference between sympathy and empathy is the former is feeling for someone, the latter is feeling with someone. You can feel sympathy for someone grieving, hurting, or experiencing loss; you often express it in words. The difference is you empathize with them by putting yourself in their shoes and walking with it with them, by their side and helping them.

The Apostle Paul discusses both the positive as well as the negative feelings based on the present circumstances. He simply says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” In either case, it is denying ourselves for the good of others.

• Rejoice with those who rejoice – It sounds easy enough, but is a lot harder than one may think. It is being genuinely happy for another who succeeds or achieves something very positive in their lives. It could be a graduation, anniversary, having a child, being hired for a job, getting a promotion, going on a special vacation, winning an award, buying a new home or car, or any number of other positive things. The flesh in us is strong, we may get envious, and wish we had been the one to experience these things not the other person. We must remember the words of Galatians 5:14, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

• Weep with those weep – We often associate empathy with sorrow more than joy. Just this week ten people were murdered by a crazed individual in our area. We can hardly imagine the pain of their families and loved ones. There was a vigil in their city of San Jose that brought out thousands of people to mourn and support each of those who lost loved ones. Job’s three friends came to support him. They started off with good intentions; they sat with him for seven days, saying not a word. Unfortunately, when they did speak they wrongly accused him of sin. Being there for someone and weeping with them doesn’t need words or very many words anyway. The danger here is that we feel better that at least it did not happen to us. Instead, we should feel as if it did really happen to us.

Therefore, let us rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. The love of Christ enables us to do both genuinely, sincerely, and deeply. Two miracles of Jesus symbolize these two different emotions: at Cana of Galilee Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding that He and His mother and disciples were invited to. Wine is a symbol of joy. He rejoiced with those who rejoiced. The second case was at the tomb of Lazarus who had died. Jesus wept with those who were weeping, especially Mary and Martha.

Have a blessed day feeling with others in their joy or in their sorrow. We show we love and care for them in both scenarios. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean