All it takes to spot a chameleon is to be around a person who mimics caring but lacks the authenticity that comes with a heart of true compassion at the moment. We can train ourselves to know what to say, but feeling something with someone in a moment requires a little more effort. This ‘feeling with’ is not just about understanding but about truly experiencing the emotions of others, which can deepen our empathy.

Jesus does not want us to just know what to say; He wants us to be like Him and be capable of joining the feelings associated with the moment. This is one of the ways we can fellowship with His sufferings: by being willing to feel the heartbreak, pain, grief, and sorrow of another as opposed to just saying the right thing.

Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

It’s one thing to say to someone I’m so sorry for your situation or your loss while not feeling anything at all about it, but it’s a whole other thing to say that same phrase with a deep sense of their pain and grief.

People can connect with someone who is willing to share in their moment with love and integrity.  I am not recommending that we join someone in an excessive lingering over a matter.  That is nothing more than a case of drama.  But I am suggesting that we be able to authentically join someone in their moment of trauma with sincere caring and no drama.  Drama is that which is played out falsely so as to create effect.  Drama is not real.

Drama is an act of emotion, not a real embodiment of it.  I cannot fellowship with the sufferings of Christ as an actor, but I can if I emoby the moment as though it were my own.  So when Paul speaks of weeping with those who weep, he is not following the pattern of the Jewish customs of the day and saying be like those who are hired as professional weepers for sad occasions.  He is inviting us to literally feel what the other person is feeling so we can embrace them in their moment with authenticity and integrity of heart.

Many of the miracles Jesus did came on the heels of Him seeing the plight of people and being moved with compassion on their behalf.

Matthew 14:14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

Wanting to see things happen for my own name’s sake and reputation is not a good motivation.  Being moved with compassion in the moment and knowing I am in partnership with Jesus in the fellowship of His sufferings can activate possibility, opportunity, and faith for some supernatural realities.  If you are struggling with forgiving someone, allow yourself an opportunity to see them through the eyes of Jesus’ compassion, and I’ll bet the farm your ability to forgive them will come easier than you ever imagined.

Matthew 18:27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

I want to be able to be moved with authentic compassion more and more.