REJOICE & WEEP

When the people around us tend to be joyful and happy then we can be. It is the same with sadness and weeping. You might not actually have tears streaming down your face but you feel the pain and sadness. Ecclesiastes 3:4 says "A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;" In the portion of scripture from Romans 12, Paul is making a point about how Christians should live in the world. 

In I Corinthians 9:22b, Paul talks about becoming all things to all men, that he might win a few for Christ. It is important as Christians that we do this in our world. It does not mean we can go out and party hardy to win those that party hardy, it means we can have an attitude that is like theirs yet living a life that is pleasing to God. Setting an example that you can have fun and party without doing things that are contrary to God's word. 

Paul knew that in order to win some for Christ you had to "change" who you were in a way. I am about to go to a country that has a different culture than I am used too. Yes, in Croatia they want to learn English, they want to be like the Americans they see on TV and they want to emulate our life styles; that does not mean that all of their customs are the same as ours. I can not go there expecting them to change for me, I have to change for them. I am the foreigner, I am the one that is the visitor. If I want to build relationships and trust with the people I meet in order to share the gospel, I can not find fault with their ways of doing things and I have to conform to the way of life they have there. 

Lord help me to rejoice with those who are rejoicing and weep with those that weep, help me to be all things to all people in a way that is pleasing to you. 

The Quote: 

"Rejoice with those that rejoice, and weep with those that weep." ~Romans 12:15 

The Drawing: