REJOICE WITH THOSE WHO REJOICE

Romans 12:15

     Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

A couple of days ago I was talking on the telephone.  Someone I am very close to told me some glorious news she had received.  I was very happy for her for a moment. 

That's right I was VERY HAPPY for A moment.

The news she had received was the very news I have been waiting to hear for myself for three years.

Instead of staying in the moment of rejoicing with her;
     Instead of embracing the joy that news brought her;
          Instead of celebrating the answer to one of her prayers;

I turned it into a moment of mourning.

Mourning for the news I haven't heard;
     Mourning for the frustration of my waiting;    

          Mourning for my prayer that has yet to be answered!!

As soon as we hung up the telephone, I heard a whisper in my soul.  Truly in the very depths of my soul.

  BE HAPPY WITH THOSE WHO ARE HAPPY!!

My heart was broken and humbled at that moment.  I asked for forgiveness.  I asked the Holy Spirit to help me never forget how I had taken away at least part of her joy, her celebration, her rejoicing.

Romans 12:15 is a command right in the middle of 13 verses (Romans 12:9-21).  God does not ask us or tell us to rejoice with those who rejoice if we feel like it; God does not ask us or tell us to mourn with those who mourn if we feel like it.  God tells us, he commands us to do these things.


Is it hard to be happy with others when you're sad for yourself?
Is it hard to be sad with others when you're happy for yourself?

YOU BET IT IS!!!!!!

We have a lesson here in Romans 12:15

 

Our lesson is that there will be times that those around us are rejoicing and we truly don't feel like rejoicing.  


Our lesson is that there will be times that those around us are mourning and we truly don't feel like mourning.

Our lesson is that in those times we are to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us so that we can truly -
   

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.