"Rejoice with those who rejoice,
and weep with those who weep."
Romans 12:15
Compassion implies that we feel what others are feeling. We can laugh and rejoice with those who rejoice. We can also weep with those who weep. That is the ministry of compassion. Our Lord Jesus Christ felt compassion for others. When Lazarus died, he went to the cemetery with friends and family, and He wept (John 11). He felt the hurt of the family. His tears testified to the compassion of His heart. Christ has not changed. He still rejoices with those who rejoice, and He weeps with those who weep. He feels our hurts, heart aches and sorrow.
The Spirit of Christ works in the lives of believers to care about others. A man traveled 26 miles one way every Sunday to attend church. Someone asked why he passed so many other churches on Sunday to attend his church. He said, "They really care about me there." We need friends who really care about us. Church is more than listening to wonderful music and a good speaker. It is a caring fellowship of people who rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.
A certain man never attended church. His wife had been a faithful attender. One day she died after a long illness. The pastor came to visit the family. He didn't say much, but he felt their sorrow. He prayed with them. After the prayer, the family noticed that he wiped away his tears. Not long after that, the grieving husband became a faithful member of the church. His daughter asked him why he became so faithful. He said, "The pastor's tears touched my heart." So many in this world are looking for those who really care about them. The ministry of compassion changes lives. That's one reason that Jesus has changed so many lives. He feels our pain.
God, give us compassion for others.
