Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
In different translations of our Verse of the Day, there's a different word used for both of the instances that are being accounted for. The word here is happy. Many times it's translated rejoice. Also, we see the word weep, and many times it's translated mourn—rejoice and mourn.
These two words are diametrically opposed to each other. You have one that feels very positive, one that feels very negative. One is up and one is down. You see, in the list of things that this verse is found a part of, it's described as a Christian living out the implications of being a follower of the way of Jesus.
Many versions of the Bible in the subheading here will even say something like love in action or marks of a true Christian. Why do I say all of that before talking about this verse? Well, what's being implied here is that somebody who is following the way of Jesus, led by the Spirit of God, these things should be true about their lives.
Heart Posture in Community
One of the things we need to pay attention to is our heart's posture relative to our Christian brothers and sisters' life situations. In other words, when someone is rejoicing, we should be rejoicing. When someone is mourning, we should mourn—happy, weeping, rejoicing, mourning. Now, the reason I give you all of that background to this verse is that it's actually way more simple than I think we give it credit for.
This isn't just some teaching to try and convince people that they should be happy when others are happy, and sad when others are sad. Instead, when there is a connectedness in Christ, a true Christian community, we are interwoven together in God's koinonia fellowship. We are brothers and sisters.
I think about situations in my life where something really good happens to me and my family. When I tell that to a true brother or sister, they don't have to come into the situation saying something like, man, I need to figure out a way to try to act like I'm happy for them in this situation. No, no, no. When I tell them this good thing that's happened, even if they're going through a hard time, they will rejoice with me.
When Life Gets Hard
The same thing holds true when something's hard. I remember we experienced loss through miscarriage, and I even had a temptation to try to convince other people not to feel bad on our behalf, because God's doing something that we don't understand, and even though I was trying to figure out a way to even make myself believe that, my brothers and sisters in Christ would have none of it. You know why?
Because when we were mourning, they were mourning. They couldn't even help it. It wasn't up to them to choose. What we're seeing here in Romans is this reminder that if we're connected to Christ and connected to one another through this fellowship, it's on us to allow ourselves to engage at the level that our brothers and sisters are experiencing life.
A Beautiful Byproduct
We rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn, it's a mark of true connection. You may be going through a good season right now, or maybe you're experiencing some hard times. It's important to know that your brothers and sisters in Christ are there to encourage you, but also to rejoice and to mourn, to be happy and to weep.
It's one of the most beautiful byproducts of this Christian community. I hope you feel encouraged today to know you have brothers and sisters in the faith that are with you on the journey.
