Mourn with those Who Mourn

There's an old expression about preaching to yourself. For those of us who most of the time only get to experience our own sermons, that's all we get. During the actual preaching, it's not like we can really receive the message, we're too busy giving it. But often during the week of preparation the Spirit, the Word and life work on the preacher.

This coming week my text will be Romans 12:14-15: Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

I've anticipated this for weeks, as I'm working through Romans 12 and I've known it's coming. Verse 15 has long been a life instruction for me, to rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn.

It has seemed especially applicable in these last weeks, and we will take a season of prayer after the sermon to pray for the things we mourn and rejoice, both in our world and in our personal lives.

What hit me today is the verse before really sets up the whole end of this chapter, and when we are rejoicing and mourning with others, that needs to include those who persecute us.

In this hotly contested political season, especially during these two weeks of conventions, I am watching my friends arguing about candidates, their positions, current events regarding Black Lives Matter and police killings.

We all have our own opinions, and it's a rare moment when we change anyone's mind with a Facebook comment, especially an angry one. Here is where I am preaching to myself.

I would encourage all of us to consider the pain someone may be experiencing before making the comments we do. I have been especially offended by those criticizing the dead, blaming the victims. Remnants of Job's friends again.

Some compassion would go a long way. Let's try that. Rejoice with those who rejoice (even when we're not feeling it) mourn with those who mourn (even when we don't get it.). It may come back around to you just when you need it.