Topic: Be an Empathetic Disciple of Christ
Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 7-9; 1 Corinthians 9.
Memory Verse: “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:22 (KJV)
An Empathetic disciple is one who is able to understand, share and relate to the thoughts, feelings or experiences of other people. It means putting yourself in other people’s shoes and understand what they go through. This is what it takes for people to relate freely with others.
Our Lord Jesus is full of empathy because He understands the weaknesses of men. In Luke 7:11-15; Jesus saw a grieving widow weeping following the corpse of his only son for burial and His heart overflowed with compassion and He brought the son back to life and delivered him to his mother. When this happened, you can see the sudden change of the mood at that event. Sorrow was suddenly changed to Joy, what a transformation. When you have empathy, you relate freely with people and therefore understand them better. Thereafter, when you speak to them, you will be doing so with understanding and human beings generally feel better and relatively secured with those who put themselves in their position. This is why it will be easier for you to win people to Christ when you put yourself in their position.
Apostle Paul followed this strategy of our Lord Jesus Christ in winning souls. He says in 1 Corinthians 9:19-21 (KJV), “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. [20] And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; [21] To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.”
When you relate with people in any situation, show empathy and understand their situation before preaching the gospel so that you may know how best to minister the gospel to them. Besides, true empathy stems from love and people can easily relate with it. Can you compare this with a lady who was at a Resort and was sharing tracts and one of her ex-colleagues saw her and greeted her with joy but she reacted differently telling the colleague that she did not come there for socials but to share the word of God. The other lady felt so bad and completely embarrassed at that reaction. Do you think such tracts being distributed will have the desired effect? Of course not. So when you see those who are rejoicing, you should rejoice with them and mourn with those who are mourning. And again Apostle Paul still emphasizing empathy says in 1 Corinthians 9:22 (KJV), “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”
However you should note that being empathetic does not imply doing things against the will of God. You are to empathize with the heart of Christ. May God abide with you as you show empathy to others in order to win their souls to Christ.
Prayer point: Father help me to be an empathetic disciple of yours in Jesus name.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero