Matthew 10:32-40
"32 “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.
37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.
40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Empathy Helps a Brother or Sister Heal
Lack of physical troubles is not a measure of inner spirituality, any more than material wealth is a measure of it. How we respond through the troubles can be a measure of our faith. And, how we respond to wealth can show us where our heart is also, do we brag, play and mock the poor, or do we use it for the sake of others while blessing those less fortunate.
James 1:12 "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."
1 Peter 5:10 "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."
Romans 12:12 "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."
John 16:33 "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Notice in all these verses we see God protecting our spirit and inner being. The reason God allows trials in our lives is to keep us dependent on Him, to glorify Him through it and to carry His Word to others who might be looking on.
If we focus on our trials then we will not hold up spiritually. If we focus on Christ, He will hold us up in our inner being. But we should not have to hold up alone. We are a family as believers and should be interested and empathetic to others going through trials.
The purpose for showing empathy to our brothers in trials, is to double their strength in a very hard time. When we embrace others in their troubles while crying with them, we strengthen them, even without any words.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 "And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart."
One hurting person, with one stronger person and Christ, can help uplift the one in distress.
Psalm 32:7-8. "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."
1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing."
Let us not walk alone in pride that we have arrived, but let us seek to glorify God through an attitude of empathy toward others, not for self glorification, but to truly please God and help others.
James 1:12 "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."
1 Peter 5:10 "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."
Romans 12:12 "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."
John 16:33 "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Notice in all these verses we see God protecting our spirit and inner being. The reason God allows trials in our lives is to keep us dependent on Him, to glorify Him through it and to carry His Word to others who might be looking on.
If we focus on our trials then we will not hold up spiritually. If we focus on Christ, He will hold us up in our inner being. But we should not have to hold up alone. We are a family as believers and should be interested and empathetic to others going through trials.
The purpose for showing empathy to our brothers in trials, is to double their strength in a very hard time. When we embrace others in their troubles while crying with them, we strengthen them, even without any words.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 "And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart."
One hurting person, with one stronger person and Christ, can help uplift the one in distress.
Psalm 32:7-8. "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."
1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing."
Let us not walk alone in pride that we have arrived, but let us seek to glorify God through an attitude of empathy toward others, not for self glorification, but to truly please God and help others.
Empathy is Preferred Over Sympathy
Why God teaches "empathy" and not "sympathy" among believers. Often believers don't want to connect in a very real way so they express sympathy, it makes them feel better that they "cared" but it offers little to the hurting person. Empathy can feel what the other person is feeling, being able to adequately comfort the hurting individual.
Romans 15:12 "15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."
Romans 15:12 "15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."
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