Have you been in a large group before and felt lonely?  I can remember when I was in eighth grade, I didn't have any friends so I would make myself look like I was busily walking to somewhere during lunch.  Of course, if anyone was paying attention they might have noticed that something was wrong with me as I passed them again, lapping the school.

Many of us can feel alone even when we are in a large group of people: school, park, even church. But as brothers and sisters of Christ, we shouldn't have to feel this way.  When Jesus called Saul to be His instrument, Jesus gave us a beautiful picture of the intimacy He has with His church.  

Saul had never met Jesus before and yet Jesus told him that when Saul killed Stephen and when he jailed the men and women who were Christian, Saul was hurting Jesus.  The pain that they felt, He felt. The suffering and hardship that they suffered, He suffered with them.  It was as though Jesus was standing beside His children, Himself being stoned; Himself being jailed.

As we try to be perfect like Christ we too should be moved to be wounded by another brother or sister's pain.  When our siblings in Christ are suffering, we are called to suffer with them.  In 1 John 5:1-5, the apostle gives us a wonderful picture of the integration between the love of God and the love of His children.  In short, we cannot love God and not love His children.

So the question is: do you know a brother or sister in need?  Is someone struggling with sin or financial hardship or depression or what to do with their disobedient child or an emotionally distant husband? What can you do to share in her suffering?  How can you bear his burden? Will you allow yourself to be wounded by another's pain? 

Prayer - Lord, thank you for your passion for us.  We pray that you would move us to bear each other's burdens and not leave them alone to fend for themselves.  Give us a heart that is moved to a compassion that causes action.  In Jesus Christ's name, Amen.