Wednesday, 29 July 2026

Romans part 189 - Life in the Body 14

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Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

What's the meaning of this verse? Life together, in the body of Messiah is one of both gladness and sorrow. To be a friend you have to identify with people both when they are glad and also when they are sad. What follows is reprinted from Rich Cleary (used by permission). Rich leads our sister congregation in Kansas City (who knows if they are in Missouri or Kansas). When I read it, I felt like it remarkably fits our subject verse. Here is what Rich wrote with some slight edits.

"A key leadership principle for us in a crisis like this is to stay focused on what is most important and to engage with God in His priorities. By our example and by our words, we can help others around us stay focused on what is most important and engage more effectively in relational partnership with God, even in our grief. This applies in all our spheres.

Our grief is not a hindrance to our effectiveness but can be catalyst if we will bring our pain, daily into God's loving and transforming presence. Our grief should be a testimony of the grieving heart of God. But the enemy will try to use it to create a sense of distance between us and God as well as each another.

During these grievous times, there are many temptations we can all experience, such as isolation, or uncontrolled anger and speech. We might even be tempted to fall into despair, hopelessness, and/or fearful anxiety. Many can feel the pull and self-justification toward an undisciplined attention on the news, day and night. This will do little to help our friends in Israel, so we must resist the temptations we face and strengthen ourselves and each other in the LORD.

So much of our leadership calling in these times is a battle for perspective and engagement in the right things, as led by the Spirit with a courageous faith. Therefore; let us keep encouraging one another in these days. When one is down, the others can lift up. Please be sure to reach out if encouragement is needed. From time to time, we all need prayer. We, as a people, honor interdependence and team work.

We will stand in solidarity with one another and Israel together. That is who we are. God, have mercy on Israel, in Yeshua's name, Amen."