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We do not have a High Priest
who cannot empathize
with our weaknesses,
but was in all points
tempted as we are,
yet without sin.
(Hebrews 4:15)
Through the ministry of discipleship, I see the difference between sympathy and empathy. Sympathy is feeling for others without a real understanding of what they are going through. Sympathy can be akin to pity. Empathy is feeling with others by identifying with what they are going through. Empathy is akin to compassion.
How can I minister with empathy to others who have experienced things I have never experienced? In and of myself, I can't. And apart from Christ, I can't even minister to those with whom I have had similar experiences.
My greatest privilege in ministry is to be God's instrument for Jesus Christ to be revealed in a person as their Wonderful Counselor! Christ in and through me compassionately reveals His life in other Christians. Only Christ can perfectly and profoundly identify with each of us. He's been tempted in every way we have.
And we have been identified with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. We are united with Him. It is His compassion in and through us that truly relates, and ministers hope, to others.
JESUS LOVES ME
My wife Joy has lived with pain from a childhood back injury. During a particularly long night with pain in 2003, Christ compassionately gave the following words to Joy. With hope, she sang these words under her breath that night to the tune of "Jesus Loves Me, this I know." I found these words on little slips of paper scattered around the bed and floor the next morning.
Father, hold me tight today,
make this aching go away.
Only You can give me peace,
that'll cause my doubts and pain to cease.
Jesus, hear my broken cry,
I know I'm why You had to die.
Not for death, but life brand new,
You in me, and me in You.
Jesus fight for me today,
my strength and will have gone away.
It's dark, I'm scared, I feel alone.
Draw me closer to Your throne.
You've kindled a fire within my soul,
because of You it'll ne'er go cold.
The fire comes from Your life, Your love,
the eternal fire is from above.
Holy Spirit take control
of my heart, my mind, my soul.
Make Your life flow out through me,
and when they look at me, it's You they see.
Father, Savior, Spirit - All,
before You on my face I fall.
In gratitude for all You've done,
oh Father, Savior, Spirit - One.
A home in heaven will be mine one day,
'cause Jesus took my sin away.
He rose to give me life so great,
for His abundant life, there is no wait.
Jesus loves me, this I know,
His life in me He tells me so.
Heaven will be my home one day,
now His victorious life is the way.
CLOSING
Jesus is not just with us through the Holy Spirit as a Helper and a Guide. He is with us through a vital union and, consequently, He experiences everything we go through. We are never alone, and we are never without Someone who cannot truly empathize with us and energize us. This can give us hope to keep going and to compassionately encourage others to keep going!
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