Children are amazing to watch, as my Grandchildren are playing I am fascinated by how in-tune they are to each others emotions, the three year old is screeching into her microphone then laughing and her 9 month old brother is laughing along with her every time, this is not a tiny laugh, he is laughing with a full out, body shaking belly laugh, I’ve noticed that, his normal good nature changes as soon as she begins to cry, even if it’s a temper tantrum of her own choosing, he will suddenly switch from his usual big smile to a pout to full fledge tears and wailing. However, as soon as my Grandson starts crying, my Granddaughter will immediately go and comfort him, telling him “It’s O.k. everything is alright, I’m here”.
It seems to me that children naturally fulfill Paul’s directive to the Church in Rom 12:15&16 Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. …..
Jesus is quoted in;
Mat_18:3 and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Could it be that this empathy children seem to be born with is what Jesus refers to in Matthew and the Apostle Paul seems to be enjoining in Romans? ”? [see (Zahn-Waxler et al. 1979) on prosocial behavior],
Is this how we Christians should be operating as reflections of “Your kingdom come”?
Jesus in his earthly life gave us examples of this type of empathy, sympathy, compassion, (whichever word you might prefer), in Matthew 20:34; Mark 6:34 and 8:2; Luke 7:13, as he is the initiator of the Kingdom of Heaven/God.
It seems to me that it all boils down to this;
Luk_10:27 and he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.
Who is our neighbor? , Well, Jesus answered the question with a story about a man who was on a journey attacked and left for dead, there were 3 people to come to the scene, the first to come by were the people we all expect would help, but they just walked on by, last on the scene came a man who was considered an enemy, but he was the one who stopped to help, he took care of the wounds and then brought the victim to a place of safety and care and paid for everything. Jesus concluded the story with a question? Who was being the neighbor? Which one would you choose? Interestingly enough this is still a very valid question in today’s world, so, let’s use the nursery, for example, it’s the baby crying in the next crib to you, or using my Grandchildren’s example your brother or sister (immediate family). There are numerous scenarios.
I know you’ve heard this a million times, so what’s so different this time? Well it seems to me that being a neighbor is up to the individual who sees the need of another, including someone who might have snubbed you, hurt you, or isn’t in your social network. The application of the neighborly principle is the most difficult to implement, we want others to be neighborly to us but to actually be a neighbor that’s where many of us particularly myself fail. Jesus was a neighbor in action & in Luke 4:18 & 19 takes his mission statement from Isaiah 61:1- 2, which he fulfilled in all he did. John says it best, Joh_1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, …As I desire to be more like Jesus, I have interpreted part of the Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:10 … Thy will be done in earth, as in heaven. As, Lord please make me so heavenly minded that I am able to do some earthly good! What’s your prayer?
It seems to me that children naturally fulfill Paul’s directive to the Church in Rom 12:15&16 Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. …..
Jesus is quoted in;
Mat_18:3 and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Could it be that this empathy children seem to be born with is what Jesus refers to in Matthew and the Apostle Paul seems to be enjoining in Romans? ”? [see (Zahn-Waxler et al. 1979) on prosocial behavior],
Is this how we Christians should be operating as reflections of “Your kingdom come”?
Jesus in his earthly life gave us examples of this type of empathy, sympathy, compassion, (whichever word you might prefer), in Matthew 20:34; Mark 6:34 and 8:2; Luke 7:13, as he is the initiator of the Kingdom of Heaven/God.
It seems to me that it all boils down to this;
Luk_10:27 and he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.
Who is our neighbor? , Well, Jesus answered the question with a story about a man who was on a journey attacked and left for dead, there were 3 people to come to the scene, the first to come by were the people we all expect would help, but they just walked on by, last on the scene came a man who was considered an enemy, but he was the one who stopped to help, he took care of the wounds and then brought the victim to a place of safety and care and paid for everything. Jesus concluded the story with a question? Who was being the neighbor? Which one would you choose? Interestingly enough this is still a very valid question in today’s world, so, let’s use the nursery, for example, it’s the baby crying in the next crib to you, or using my Grandchildren’s example your brother or sister (immediate family). There are numerous scenarios.
I know you’ve heard this a million times, so what’s so different this time? Well it seems to me that being a neighbor is up to the individual who sees the need of another, including someone who might have snubbed you, hurt you, or isn’t in your social network. The application of the neighborly principle is the most difficult to implement, we want others to be neighborly to us but to actually be a neighbor that’s where many of us particularly myself fail. Jesus was a neighbor in action & in Luke 4:18 & 19 takes his mission statement from Isaiah 61:1- 2, which he fulfilled in all he did. John says it best, Joh_1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, …As I desire to be more like Jesus, I have interpreted part of the Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:10 … Thy will be done in earth, as in heaven. As, Lord please make me so heavenly minded that I am able to do some earthly good! What’s your prayer?
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