Romans 12:15 AMPC
Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others' joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others' grief].
Hebrews 4:15 AMPC
For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.
The Kingdom of our Lord Jesus is a sharing kingdom. We are called to share the gospel, share the wonderful news that God loves us and wants to take care of us.
He understands because He has walked in our shoes. He knows the joys and sorrows of being human. There is never a day when Jesus is disinterested in your life, or disinterested in the workings of this world - good and bad.
When you look at your neighbour or walk past a person in the street, realise that Jesus died for them, He is desperate to find a pathway into their heart. You could be that signpost.
In our own little way, we are called to share and empathise with those around us.
Standing aloof is not on the agenda for believers in Jesus.
If I can hear of some calamity or someone's deep hurt and am unmoved, then there's a problem with my heart.
We are called to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. That entails entering into and understanding what others are going through. Often we will go through inexplicably painful experiences in order for us to be able to understand and reach out to those in a similar plight.
Practically, that means lending a listening ear or a helping hand, a shoulder to cry on or celebrating a success, a birthday or anniversary.
Be on the lookout for how you can demonstrate the love of Jesus on a daily basis. Be interested in those around you.
The worldly ethos is "me" first, but not so with the followers of Jesus. We are called to be outward looking, caring and sharing with others as the Lord directs us.
Often it requires putting our own wants on the back burner.
Paul writes that "he dies daily" 1 Corinthians 15:31. He did actually face death on a regular basis, but there is a spiritual "dying to self" that we too are called to.
So we can rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.
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