"Compassion for the Broken"

"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn" ~ Romans 12:15

With this one simple sentence in the middle of a section of Paul's letter to the Romans that is all about love in action, the apostle explains how we can meet people exactly where they are on their journey with Jesus. But so often we get it wrong. When people rejoice, you might compare your own circumstances and find yourself envious or even trying to burst their bubble a bit. When people mourn, you might question their tears and judge their plight as nothing compared to your own struggles. Scripture is clear that these responses come from the flesh, not the Spirit of God, and that they are incompatible with true discipleship. If we want to be ambassadors for Christ and be used to draw more people to Him, we must see them as image-bearers of God who are to be loved rather than competitors who are to be battled. This week at Friendship, we'll talk about what "Compassion for the Broken" looks like for those who love and obey God. You may even face your own issues of judgmentalism toward those whose lives have been riddled with brokenness, as you encounter the story of Job and how his wife and friends responded to him. But God was sovereign and used it all for His glory, just as He will do in your life as well!