More Than First Meets the Eye
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (Romans 12:15)
The Apostle Paul was a complex person raised in Tarsus, a place deeply influenced by Greek philosophy. Paul would feel shame if he wrote trite statements that did not reflect deeper divine meaning. Therefore, when we read a seemingly simple sentence like Romans 12:15, we should always give it a second reading and see if we can find a more profound understanding. Please reread it. “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
Sadly, I cannot learn your reflections on this text. Yet, I can show you mine. As I reread the passage, I am struck by the demands it places on you and me. Instead of focusing only on our feelings, God calls us to empathize with others. Further, Paul could have defined who is worthy of rejoicing and mourning. Instead, the Apostle leaves it open-ended. We are called to open our emotions to everyone around us.
Most of us will rejoice and even mourn with those we love, including family and friends. We will share with those we care for because we believe it will be reciprocated. But Paul demands more of us. He expects us to open ourselves to those we may not even know. Rejoicing and mourning require powerful empathy. Empathy tugs at our emotions and forces us to give of ourselves. Even rejoicing takes time and energy. Giving is a Christlike act, and Paul calls us to give ourselves to others with abundance.
I wrote this devotion quickly without returning to clean up my thoughts. My main concern was to show how much meaning can come from just a second reading of a Scriptural passage. Given more time, I could have easily tripled the number of thoughts on the passage. I wanted to show you and myself that Scripture often possesses wisdom, even in seemingly straightforward passages. Don’t rush through as if reading a light novel when you read the Bible. Instead, reread and ponder the stories and individual sentences, trusting the Holy Spirit to spark your mind and soul to great depth of meaning. Today, pick your passage and give it a try.