“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV)

Can you sympathize with others?  Who do you sympathize with more, the guilty or the innocent?  Most of us would say "the innocent."  Especially those who are suffering through no fault of their own.  It's fairly easy to sympathize with the victim of abuse, but far more difficult to sympathize with someone suffering because of their own actions.  Can you sympathize with the thief, the murderer, the gang member or the drug dealer?  What about with the human smuggler?

Let's start with those suffering innocently.  For most of us, when we see someone suffering abuse, poverty or injustice, something inside of us says "that's just not fair!"  While we may feel sympathy for the individual in question, unless we or someone else is the one suffering, we rarely do something about it except express our sympathy.  This is especially true if we have never experienced what they are going through.

People most commonly change sympathy into action when they themselves have experienced something similar.  For example, the owner of an apartment complex in Houston that receives great numbers of refugees is himself an immigrant from an impoverished country.  

The question remains, then, why isn't the average Christian sitting in the church pew moved to action in regards to human suffering?  Is it that we have become too insulated from the sufferings of others?  Have we already pre-judged those in need as deserving what they are suffering, or do we believe that since we overcame our setbacks that they should too?

Jesus didn't come for the good people and He didn't insulate himself from us.  He became comletely human, even subjecting himself to temptation and weakness.  He can sympathize with us in our weakness, because He Himself became weak even to the point of death.  He died for the ungodly, "you and I."  He not only  sympathized with the poor, the hungry and the homeless but also with the murderer and the theif.  His sympathy was not a "I hope someone does something about it," but rather "I will personally do something about it."

Anyone can approach Him with confidence, knowing that His love has no limitations.

Getting back to you and I, can we sympathize or "stand with" those who are suffering?  Will you help them learn to approach God's throne of grace with confidence?

Will you be sympathetic?