Thoughts on Romans 12:15

"Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." ~Romans 12:15, ESV

Jesus himself wept when His friend Lazarus died. He knew that Lazarus could be raised again. But he still wept. Wept over the pain the two woman were going through, wept over the hearts that did not believe that things could be made right. Over and over in the gospels, we are told that Jesus had compassion on the people who crowded around Him, "because they were like sheep without a shepherd".

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ," Galatians 6:2 commands us. Compassion is one of those mercies that the Lord has given, filling our journey through this fallen, sinful world with constant undeserved blessings. A friend who truly cares about what is important to us, laughs with us, cries with us, praises and prays with us, is a true joy. 

Excitement without jealousy when something delightful happens to another; tender sympathy when they are going through a hard time; simply calling someone up to check on them and pray for them when they have something coming up that they are nervous about; complimenting the project that your sibling has worked on all day. It takes almost nothing from us to offer these things, but it can seem so meaningful when we receive them. To know that we're not alone in something, to know that there is always someone eager to be a part of our joys, those are things that warm the heart. To look for those who need that compassion should be a joy to us. and what an even better joy to know that "there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Christ has "breathed our air and walked our sod", and He knows the trails and pain of life, as well it's joys. His compassion is untouched by flesh, and he forever stands to "make intersession for us to the Father"!

Blessings,

Bri :)