The Christian walk involves moving from sympathy to empathy, as exemplified by Christ's compassionate suffering and sacrifice. By actively listening, showing care, and trusting in God's presence, believers can better support and connect with others.
The word sympathy originates from a Greek word meaning a shared feeling or a willingness to help because of shared feelings. Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar share how the Christian walk involves fellowshipping with God first and then with others. In fellowship, we often move from sympathy to empathy. Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone's situation, whereas empathy is about experiencing their emotions because you've been through similar situations yourself. No one wants to go through pain, but enduring it can strengthen your spiritual muscles. Everyone has faced tough times, enabling us to relate to others' pain and emotions.
1 Peter 3:8 speaks to this topic, emphasizing that being like-minded and sympathetic fosters compassion. Christ is our ultimate example—He did not stand above human suffering but willingly stepped into it. Jesus endured complete separation from God so that we would not have to experience that separation. Through His sympathy, we are saved, and this empowers us to sympathize with others. Sympathy naturally leads to action. It’s about trying to understand and entering into someone’s world, even if you haven't experienced their exact circumstances.
The guys speak about how sympathy is the Lord opening your eyes to the people around you. Believers often become self-centered, forgetting the precious souls bearing the image of Christ surrounding us. Romans 12:15 encourages us to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. It is essential to actively listen and slow down. Overpowering conversations can make others feel undervalued. Listening to bless others can also be a learning experience. Jealousy can sometimes hinder our ability to rejoice with others, but love focuses on the well-being of other people.
It all comes back to remembering the sympathy that God has towards us. To grow in sympathy, ask thoughtful questions and be mindful of the environment and the people around you. Engage in actions that show you care. Be patient with those who are suffering and encourage them to move forward and actively walk with the Lord. The guys encourage Christians to remember that there is value in your suffering beyond what God may be doing in you. Affliction serves to convince us of our own insufficiency and dependence on God. Even if you feel isolated, remember that God sees your struggles. Continue to move forward, trusting in God's presence and support.
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Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.
Ray Comfort
Emeal (“E.Z.”) Zwayne
Mark Spence
Oscar Navarro
The Living Waters Podcast 