Empathy
In John 13:34-35, Jesus says, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
In our daily walk with Christ, we often encounter other people acting and speaking in ways that puzzle us. Their actions might stem from places of pain, fear, or desperation. Other people operate out of personal experiences that we can’t fully comprehend. As we interact with people, it's helpful to embrace a Christ-like empathy, striving to understand their hearts, minds, and experience.
Consider the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). When others passed by the beaten man on the road, it was the Samaritan who stopped, offered help, and tended to his wounds. He didn’t make assumptions, judge or condemn the man, or ask why the man was there and how he ended up where he was. Instead, he saw a fellow human in need and responded with love and compassion.
Jesus commands us to love one another as He loves us. This love is unconditional and goes beyond mere tolerance. It calls us to step into the shoes of others and see the world from their perspective. When we do this, we begin to understand the struggles and challenges they face.
From what we know about Jesus, He engaged people in conversation, made efforts to understand them, and showed a willingness to meet them where they were.
At Kitchen One for One, as we interact with each other and serve those in need, let’s pray for the wisdom to see beyond actions and words to the heart of each person. Let’s ask God for the grace to respond not with judgment, but with empathy and love. AND, on the flipside, let’s try and treat people with the love of Christ regardless of our own wounds and fears.
By understanding where people are coming from, we can better serve them and demonstrate the unconditional love of Christ. AND, on the flipside, by understanding where we ourselves are coming from, we can better serve others and demonstrate the unconditional love of Christ.
