Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (Romans 12:15)
Grace not only blesses others, even those who persecute them, it identifies with others. Listen to Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
People usually rejoice when things are going well for them. We are to celebrate with others when they are blessed. Join with them in their rejoicing, even if things aren’t going well for you.
This is often harder to do than to “mourn with those who mourn.” When people are mourning it’s because things are not going well with them. They have either lost their health, wealth, a friend or had a loved one die. Possibly a child disappointed them by abandoning the faith, or a spouse, abandoned or divorced them. There is much heart ache in our world, and despair and mourning are increasing.
Identifying with those who mourn requires grace and humility, especially if things are going well with you. It involves reaching down to help them. Maybe you think they deserve what is happening to them. The challenge here is not to judge, but to identify with them, mourn with them.
Often we compare ourselves with others. If they are not doing well we might feel better about ourselves. If they are doing well, we might not feel as good about ourselves. The challenge Paul gives us here is to not get involved in the blame and shame, or compare and criticize game.
The challenge is to identify uncritically with others and experience their life with them empathetically.
