Called to Empathize

Scripture:  “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself…”   Philippians 2:3 (NASB)  

During my subway ride on Valentine’s Day, the driver announced over the p.a. system:  ‘If you’re smoking, please put it out; there’s no sense in holding everyone else up while we wait for the police!’  He repeated the warning; apparently, the smoker(s) hadn’t immediately heeded the first one!  Plainly, the culprit lacked empathy for his fellow passengers—that is, he was not putting himself into another’s shoes; he lacked the capacity (or caring) to understand, be sensitive to, or experience the feelings, thoughts, or experience of others who were being subjected to his second-hand cigarette smoke.

In recent weeks, the need for this often unsung and neglected virtue has made a comeback in the public consciousness—on a Super Bowl commercial, no less!   Dear saints, do you recognize the prevalence of empathy running like a thread through God’s Word? “ To quote one author, “ Empathy lies at the heart of the Christian faith;” and while we won’t find the actual word in the Bible, its necessity as a hallmark of Christian character permeates the entire Counsel of God.
The New Testament is rife with references to our need as Christ-followers to consistently employ empathy in our dealings with others.  We see it in Matthew 7:12—“Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Ephesians 4:32 puts its simply:  “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”   We see the call to be empathic even in our speech patterns, in Ephesians 4:29—“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”  We violate this requirement to be empathetic as easily sometimes as “falling off a log,” yet we can ask forgiveness of those we’ve offended and of our Savior God and purpose each day to remember the rock from which we were hewn,” allowing our hearts to be broken for what breaks that of our Savior.

Prayer:  Dear Abba, as Your redeemed ones, we yearn to be people who have consistent empathy for others, extending grace to all people; yet, we confess our occasional failings in this area.  Give us a renewed heart and focus to reflect your Spirit’s presence within as we rub elbows daily with our fellow human beings made in Your image.  In Christ’s name, thank You and Amen!

(by Denise Diggs)