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Daily Devotions

Romans

Romans 
Day 
Day 259

"Rejoice with those who rejoice..."

Text: Romans 12:15

CULTIVATING A HEART OF EMPATHY

Paul’s words of advice may seem simple, but they are really profound. The words may sound simple to practice, but in all honesty, we know that his words of admonition are truly profound. The only way to practise what he taught would require time and concentration to cultivate a great heart that knows how to empathise with others.

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those
who weep.”
Romans 12:15

1. Rejoice with those who rejoice

a) Not all believers have a heart that knows how to rejoice.
b) Paul certainly cultivated a heart of joy (Cf. Philippians 1:4; 3:1; 4:4).
c) It takes a great heart of empathy to be able to genuinely rejoice with those who rejoice.
i) It is not easy to rejoice with those who are more successful.
ii) It is not easy to rejoice with those who have obtained greater wealth.
iii) But the truly empathetic heart can and will rejoice with others.

2. Weep with those who weep

a) It is not easy to have a heart that is truly compassionate.
b) In some societies weeping is even seen as a sign of weakness.
c) It takes a lot to be able to actually weep with those who weep.
i) It would require genuine concern of the heart.
ii) It would entail involvement in the lives of other people.
iii) It would mean that there is deep sympathy for those who weep.

A GREAT AND RELEVANT CHALLENGE TODAY

The words of the apostle Paul apply to us today! We live in such a fragmented and nucleic society that we do not know how to truly rejoice and weep with others. We need to re-discover the noble concept of “community”. We need to learn what it means to truly feel with and for each other. This is one Christian virtue that we must seriously seek to cultivate.