Mission Sent
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Mission Sent
Jesus Wept: What Your Tears (Or Lack Thereof) Say About Your Faith
Imagine standing at a crossroads of emotion—your colleague just got the promotion you wanted, or you're facing someone in the depths of grief. These moments reveal something profound about our faith journey and emotional maturity. Through the lens of Romans 12:15, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep," we discover that Paul isn't simply addressing two emotional states but challenging us to be authentically present with others in every circumstance.
The command to rejoice with others strikes at the heart of our struggle with jealousy. When someone succeeds where we haven't, our natural response often reveals a subtle accusation: "God, you're not fair." By choosing celebration over envy, we affirm God's goodness and demonstrate Christ's outward focus. True rejoicing with others prevents us from making idols of our desires and transforms our perspective on blessings—both our own and others'.
Similarly, weeping with others challenges our fix-it mentality. Jesus himself modeled this perfectly in the shortest verse of scripture, "Jesus wept." Though he knew he would raise Lazarus, he first entered fully into Mary and Martha's grief. This powerful reminder shows us that sometimes people don't need our solutions—they need our presence. In a world of increasing isolation, being someone who walks alongside others in their darkest moments reflects Christ's promise: "I am with you always."
This message offers practical application for becoming the hands and feet of Jesus in others' lives. When we connect authentically with those around us—celebrating victories and carrying burdens—we create the kind of community where people know they belong not because of what they bring but because they're unconditionally valued.
Ready for a challenge? Find someone to genuinely celebrate this week, and let someone know you're there for them, no matter what. Your presence might be exactly what they need.
I'm going to start this morning by asking one question, and that is this have you ever been in the position where, like someone you work with maybe not like the favorite at the like job they get this promotion and in the back of your mind you're kind of like, really Like, I'm more qualified, I've been here longer, I do a better job, I have better performance reviews, like things of that nature, and that that like seems to be your, your thought in the back of your head, where you're just kind of like, how did they get this promotion? Or, on the flip side of that, have you ever been at something like a funeral and and you were like sitting there and you were just trying to find the words that needed to come out, even though you knew in your mind nothing in this moment is going to make anything better? In fact, I remember one time when I first got off of training as a deputy, one of the first death notification calls. I got to go on right and I was like, cool, I'm just going to walk up to the door, I'm going to knock on the door and I'm going to be like, hey look, your loved one is no longer with us. And I know this is hard, but I just need to come tell you that because that's what my call said on my screen and my sergeant at the time went. I was holding that call for a reason because we have things that get set up Like you know having a chaplain and having more than one person standing at the door to deliver this terrible news that is going to wreck these people's lives why on earth would you jump this call and be the first one there? And I was like, well, I saw it was in my zone. I know how you guys feel about calls holding in your zone, so I wanted to do it and no one told me anything separate. Well, that's kind of what we're getting into today. That's really the crux of what Paul is going to jump into, but it's much bigger than this. So we're going to jump into Romans 12, 15. I'm going to pray and then we'll get into it.
Speaker 1:Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you so much for your word and I ask and I pray, god that is, all of us sitting in this room this morning are sitting here, going. Hey, we came today because we want to be better stewards of your love, that we want to be your hands and your feet here and now, father, I just pray that, through the power of your spirit, we are changed from the inside out, that we leave here different than we came in. Father, I ask and I pray that as I go through your word today, that it be your words to your people that cut us to the heart, so that we are changed. Father, we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen, all right.
Speaker 1:Romans 12, 15 says this Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. And I thought it odd when I first started studying this that Paul would only pick these two things. Right, it's either rejoice or weep, it's either happy or sad. And it didn't make a lot of sense to me that he would just be on these two opposite ends until I stopped and thought about it. He's not just talking about these two specific things. He's not just sitting here saying, hey, either be happy with those who are happy or be sad with those who are sad. What he's really trying to sit here and say is be with those who you are around. What he's really trying to drive at here is something that I'll tell you right now.
Speaker 1:Personal confession I really struggle with, because he's really talking about the emotional aspect of human life aspect of human life. Has anyone in here, like scientists, have been studying emotion for literally hundreds of years? And do you know what? They have no idea where emotion comes from. They have no idea why we have emotion. They have no idea how we use emotion. They have no idea what's going on inside your brain outside of, hey, you feel good, you're getting these dopamine and serotonin hits, and when you feel bad, your brain is just getting like cortisol and these other hormones. Other than that, they have no explanation for it.
Speaker 1:And for me, as a what I would refer to as a logical person, or as my daughter called me this week, the ultimate threat to AI, I go. You guys have heard me preach this, I don't know how many times. Right, forget your emotions. Be logical about it. Work through the problem with truth and logic and understanding. That's how you solve things. And you know what? If this was a math class and you could do that, you will be better at math. I promise you.
Speaker 1:The people that struggle at math are the people that are trying to bring all these extra things into the problem. Those are the ones that are sitting here going. I don't understand this because they can't just mentally go step by step by step by step. And what Paul is sitting here saying is this quit being a robot. That's what he's trying to get at the reason he uses rejoice and weep. He could have used any emotions he wanted to. Now we're going to look at rejoice and we're going to look at weep and we're going to see how those two things factor into our lives. But what he's driving at here is be there for those around you, whatever side of the coin they're on. And I know I struggle with that. I know that's something that's hard for me.
Speaker 1:But as we jump into this, let's start with this. We are called to be lights in the darkness. Here's what that means. You should be different than everyone else in their life. Whoever that person is Like, you shouldn't sound like. You shouldn't act like. Like when they have an interaction with you, they be leaving that interaction going. There's just something different about you that you should be a person they want to call when things go bad, like. Has anyone ever stopped and thought about that? Like I know, a lot of us are sitting here going. We don't want to be the one they call because that's something extra we're going to have to do, but think, think about this. That is the position we should be in. You should be the first thought in their mind when things go wrong. They should be like oh, I need to call Kevin, kevin's going to be able to help me with this and you know what else we should be their biggest cheerleader.
Speaker 1:So when things are going right like I don't know if any of you in here are sinners like me and you watch Parks and Rec Ann and Chris wind up. They're two characters in Parkinson's. It's not important if you don't know who they are, but they wind up getting pregnant and they're going to have a baby and they go around City Hall and they're telling all of these different people the news and they're getting the typical reactions right. And then at the very end of the episode spoiler alert, but the show's been out for like 15 years, so if you ain't seen them by now, whatever they go oh, has she landed yet? Because Leslie was coming back from her trip and they knew they were going to get the reaction they wanted from Leslie, because she's just this overly bubbly person. And of course, when they tell her, it's like balloons and magic. And all of this Is that you Because, see, when they tell her, it's like balloons and magic and all of this? Is that you Because, see, we're meant to be, that we're meant to be different.
Speaker 1:We are meant to be Jesus to everyone. And let me ask you, like, when your life is crumbling and falling apart, who do you go to? Who do you turn to? I bet most of us in this room. You're going to hit your knees and be like God, help me, jesus, help me, walk with me through this. And when things, when you get that news that's just overly excited, aren't you going to Jesus and just going, hey, thank you. Isn't this why we start every service the same way? Do we have any prayer requests? Do we have any praise reports? Do we have things that we're asking Jesus for? And do we have things that we're sitting here thanking Jesus for? See, that is who we're meant to be. This is practical application to our life. These are the things, as Christians, we should be doing, and Paul starts with this rejoice with those who rejoice.
Speaker 1:Now let me ask you when was the last time you were truly excited for someone? Mine was Friday night. I was sitting there and I was talking with someone, and I'm not going to use their name, but they're like really contemplating and really battling and wrestling with taking that next step of happiness in their life and buying a boat. And I know how exciting and how fun that is going to be. And we wound up staying where we were longer. They were probably looking at us like dude, you guys got to leave, but I was like so excited that they're thinking about taking this step and getting a 72-foot Voyager so that we can make like these church trips over to Bimini. I was like this is going to be awesome, man, we can like preach on the open ocean.
Speaker 1:But see, when was the last time you had someone in your life that you were like just super excited for? Like they told you this news and you were like I can't help but rejoice with you. And you know why Paul tells us to do this. Because if I'm rejoicing with you, can I be jealous of you? Like, if I'm truly excited for you, how can I be looking at you and be jealous of you?
Speaker 1:And there's a reason I bring that up because when we look at Exodus 20, and for those of you that don't know, this is where we get the Ten Commandments right. They're in Exodus, chapter 20. And one of those commandments in verse 17 is this you shall not covet your neighbor's house, you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey. Now we shorten this to don't be jealous, don't be envious, depending on which line of thought you came from. But why is jealousy such a bad thing Like? Why do we have the Ten Commandments?
Speaker 1:To begin with, because here's the thing Most of you, most of us I don't want to say you, most of us look at the Ten Commandments, at this list of do's and don'ts. Most of the world does right. In fact, one of the big turnoffs to religion, quote-un, unquote in the world is this who are you to tell me what I can and can't do? But see, the Ten Commandments aren't a list of do's and don'ts. Are there don'ts in there? Yeah, are there do's in there? Sure, but here's what it is. It's given to us for our safety. Think about it.
Speaker 1:If you're a parent in here when your child was little, why did you go? Hey, don't go play in the road. Good job, like. Even people without kids can answer that right, because my two-year-old is no match for a 2,500 pound missile driving down the road and because I want my two year old to make it to C3, I went hey, you're not allowed to go past this point in our yard, that pavement area out there, you're not allowed to get there. Now what happens is they get older, though they start asking, hey, can we go into the road? Because there's not enough room in the yard. And when they're old enough to realize the dangers of that, you go yes, but watch for cars, because now they can put those two things together.
Speaker 1:See, that's what the Ten Commandments were. It was God going hey, if you want to live life to the fullest, live inside these boundaries. You want a good marriage? Well, the Seventh Commandment says this don't commit adultery, in other words, don't have boyfriend and girlfriends. Now to us in this room.
Speaker 1:If you're sitting here going, that's not fair or God's trying to keep me from something. Understand this If you're a man in here and you're married, one wife is enough. Is she not Like? One wife let's be honest, guys is more than you can ever possibly handle. And I know some of you are like no, no, you don't know my wife. She is like super sweet and does everything for me, I get it. And you can say that all day in front of her. But you know, in the back of your mind you're like, yep, I get it, god is giving me this as a safety.
Speaker 1:And see, and he starts with this hey, don't be jealous. You want to know why? Because at the core of jealousy, here's what you're saying it's God is not fair, jesus isn't fair, he doesn't know what's best for me. And we start elevating ourselves. See, it would be like my 17-year-old looking at me and going Daddy, you don't understand. Everybody else is doing it and anybody in here knows, because you've been told a thousand times. If everybody else was jumping off a bridge, would you do it? Depending on what that bridge was over? Maybe Cliff jumping is a lot of fun. But see, that's what we're doing to Jesus. When we get into these jealous things, we are saying Jesus isn't good enough and he's not fair. You look at other things and here's what your mind is starting to do.
Speaker 1:If I had a spouse like, fill in the blank, like Debbie, then I would be happy. If I had a job that was just like where I get to be my own boss and I don't have to answer to anyone, then I will be happy. I will tell you right now. If you don't work for yourself. It is a thousand times harder than just showing up at 7 and leaving at 3. Because every little thing falls on you. Hence why I spent three days up here crawling through the attic and sweating like a hog, because it was. What other choice do I have? Because, at the end of the day, who's responsible for it? Me, you know where. I didn't do that At any job I had before, because I went. That's your responsibility. You figure it out. My contract said I was here till three. Guess what? It's three. I'm out. See, it's sitting here, going.
Speaker 1:Man, he's right, if I just had a boat, my life would be happier, and I'm going to go ahead and tell you on that one. It is true, if you had a boat you would be happier, and I'm going to go ahead and tell you on that one. It is true, if you had a boat, you would be happier. But there's a reason why people are like break out another thousand because boats are expensive. And I'm going to tell you, things break on them a lot. It's like we are like we can send stuff apparently to the moon, but we can't figure out how to run an engine in salt water without it breaking down, see, but what it is is we're sitting here going. If I had these things, then I would be happy.
Speaker 1:And what we're actually saying is Jesus, the things you are giving me don't make me happy, you don't know what is best for me. And it turns into, instead of just going. This is all about Jesus. It turns into I need Jesus, and Jesus is just this starting point, and then I can build everything out of here. In fact, I've met and talked to a lot of people that even when we look at it and it won't be up there but when you look at Matthew 6.33, right, seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you. That's the mindset we come into it with, right. So first is the kingdom of God and then I build everything else off of that. That's the same thing we see right here.
Speaker 1:However, if I'm rejoicing with you about what you have, how then can I be sitting here on the inside being jealous of you? See, what I'm really doing is I'm looking at you and I'm going. Man, that is awesome, because if I'm pouring that to you, I can't be sitting here going. That's not fair and that's where we run into this problem and that's why it's so hard for us to be happy for other people, because we're constantly looking at what we don't have instead of being happy for what someone else does have. That's not love, that's jealousy at its finest. I'll tell you right now and again, one of these days I'm just going to start using names and I'm not going to care if I offend you, because we should be closer than that.
Speaker 1:You know I'm not saying things to offend you, but there is someone in here who got a really cool toy that everyone thought was a fire truck the other day. And yet how can I sit here and at the same time go? Hey, that's awesome that you got that, but go, why couldn't I get that? And for those of you in here that are like, why would you even need that? Why wouldn't you need that? It's just fun to drive around in a truck that is bigger than everything else on the road. You know why? Because then you don't care when people pull out in front of you because you're sitting here going. It's going to hurt you a lot more than it's going to hurt me. I have a tank, but see, when I sit here and I go, I need to just genuinely be excited for others. It keeps me from making idols in my own life.
Speaker 1:And that's where the Christian really honestly has to battle. It starts up in our head. It starts in your mind, in fact, when we see your heart throughout all of scripture. Even the ancient peoples writing that knew they weren't talking about the beating muscle inside your chest. They were talking about your mind. They were talking about what makes you want and desire and those kind of things. That is where your battle starts. And when we can get our minds right go back to Romans 12 too right, do not be conformed to the ways of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. When we get our minds right, your actions will follow. If you can fix your head, your actions are the easy part. It's just getting our minds right that we struggle with, because what is inside will come out.
Speaker 1:Jesus in Matthew 12 says this you brood of vipers. Who is he talking to? The Pharisees? He's talking to the religious people. He is not talking to a group of sinners out on a street corner somewhere while he's holding a sign. This would be like Jesus, walking in here right now and looking at all of us and going you brood of vipers, how can you speak good when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. See, another thing that Paul is talking about is the same thing Jesus was talking about with the Pharisees here.
Speaker 1:Stop being fake. Look the fake. You is doing just fine and the fake you really doesn't need help. But if you're actually sitting here going, hey, you know what. I want to actually be better at this. Stop being fake with everyone. Here's the deal. You get into arguments with your spouse, you get into arguments with your siblings, you get into arguments with a bunch of people. And if you're anything like me, you have had an argument on your way to church when you're like hey, we got into the parking lot, we're going to put this on pause. We're going to go in here with a smile. We're going to act like something. Guys, I know we can giggle at this.
Speaker 1:I'm telling you, as a young pastor, I had older pastors that were like hey, understand, when you're here, it's game time, you need to look the part, you need to sound the part. People can't see that. And I looked at this pastor and went that is dead wrong. You know what people should see me do Argue with my wife. Because if I'm going to sit here and go, hey, imitate me as I imitate Christ. You need to see me discipline my kids. You need to see me argue with my wife.
Speaker 1:Here's what you don't need to see the fake me just standing here, going, hey, everything's perfect and you just got to do X, y and Z. Because sometimes you do X, y and Z and crap still falls apart. But what Jesus is sitting here saying, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. He's sitting here going what's inside is going to come out. In fact, if you were to look at your life and go, hey, what do I really believe about X, y or Z, record yourself talking, because you can't help it. It's just going to flow, because that really is who you are. The reason why Paul is sitting here going rejoice with those who rejoice is that is who you should be. You should just be excited for others instead of so downcast because life gave you a bad hand, instead of so downcast because life gave you a bad hand.
Speaker 1:And you know what we do when we feel like that. What do we do when we feel like everything's crumbling around us? Retreat, I know, you know. We isolate ourselves. You have teenage girls or if you've ever had teenage girls, you know this like the back of your hand. Right, we call them an angsty teen. They dye their hair purple, things go wrong and what do they do? They lock themselves in their room, listen to sad music and just cry.
Speaker 1:Right, and we can all laugh and joke. But you know what, guys? You do the same thing. You just don't make it look like that. We run to the bar, right, we just grab another bottle, we self-soothe. The same way, it's just different. Some of us go hey, that's it, I'm going out fishing again because my problems can't follow me on the boat, they can't swim. Same way, it's just different. Some of us go hey, that's it, I'm going out fishing again because my problems can't follow me on the boat, they can't swim.
Speaker 1:And see, and what we do is we take away any power we have in this. When you walk in this door and I go, hey, how's it going? And you're like, oh, everything's great, you have took any power away from what could actually happen. Because I'll tell you right now. I will shut this down and go. Hey, you know what? We're not even going to have a service. Let's go into the office and let's talk about this, let's pray about this, let's see where we can change this stuff, because your marriage is more important than me standing up here rambling on and on and on for anywhere between 30 and 60 minutes, just depending on how in-depth we're going with whatever that day, because your heart is more important. In fact, we've had people who have served here who have wound up leaving where I went. Look, I don't care about what you bring to this, because your heart is more important than your talents, and if your heart isn't in this, then I would rather you not. We'll figure something else out, because your heart is what matters.
Speaker 1:Actions follow what is going on on the inside. If you're not plugged in and you're isolating, guess what. I already know what's going on on the inside. If you're not plugged in and you're isolating, guess what. I already know what's going on on the inside. I don't have to guess. Is everything going good? No, it's not, obviously, because all you do is retreat and isolate yourself and understand you've now taken any power we have in our Christian life out of this, and it's not that you're going to sit there and hold it all in, because you're not, because out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
Speaker 1:People call you angry guess what it's because that's what's deep inside of you. If people call you miserable, guess why? That's what's deep inside of you, how people are describing you. Although you take it as a personal attack, all they're doing is showing you. It would be like when you walk to a mirror and you see the reflection. All of us have a mental picture of what we look like. Right, I still, in my mind, look like I'm 18. Washboard abs just cut up everywhere. Every muscle can be like identified. But then I see a video that I post on YouTube and I'm like um, that six pack looks like it grew a little bit Underneath it all, underneath it all One of the movies we've watched, right? They refer to it like this layer upon layer of relaxed, dormant muscle, right.
Speaker 1:But see, when I walk into a mirror, when I see myself on a video, that is what it really is, regardless of what I believe up here and what Paul is sitting here driving at. Is he's sitting here going? Hey, we have these checks in place for a reason because the more you look at you, the less you're going to be able to pour out for others. The more you look and go, hey, this isn't fair, the less you're going to be able to pour out for others. The more you look and go, hey, this isn't fair, the less you're going to be able to pour out for others. The more you look at my marriage and go, hey, I wish I had a wife like that, the less you're going to be able to pour into your wife. And the list can go on and on and on. That is only one example.
Speaker 1:But see, when I rejoice with those who rejoice, it keeps me from looking at me and it keeps my focus looking outward. That's what we're called to be, even as the Son of man came not to serve, but to serve and give his life a ransom for many. We were never meant to look inward. Everything is causing us to go out, even the Great Commission, which we're going to get into in a second right. What was Jesus's last rule for his disciples? It starts with one word Ready Go. Stop just staying in one place. Now a lot of biblical commentators will argue that that word go doesn't mean like go. It has more of a connotation of as you are going, as you are living your life, teach, show them how to follow me but it's still that outward focus.
Speaker 1:When we make this an inward thing, we're not in the light of the mission of Christ. So if I'm rejoicing with you, I can't make this an inward thing all about me, because some of us are really good at that. Right, like someone tells you something you're like well, I. And it's like okay, I wasn't talking about you, though, like I was talking about me. The great theologian Toby Keith even wrote an entire song about it. Right, I want to talk about me. I want to talk about I. I want to talk about number one oh my, oh my. What I think, what I want, what I want, what I see. I like talking about you occasionally, but right now, I just want to talk about me. It is an actual song. Yes, see, my only thought becomes what am I missing? And then how can I look at Jesus as a good, good father giving good, good gifts, if I'm sitting here going? He's not fair.
Speaker 1:So this week, make it your mission this isn't closing, this is just like an interlude closing. Make it your goal to find one person and genuinely be happy for what they have or what they have accomplished. Now, on the flip side, oh, understand, like, when we do this right, doesn't this have us outdoing one another with honor, which was what we looked at a couple of weeks ago, right? So see how, when we start doing one thing, all these other things start falling in line with that one thing. The problem is, when we go, we have to do all the things, because here's what happens we get overwhelmed and then guess what? We do? None of the things.
Speaker 1:How do I know this? Because I've raised children, because it doesn't take 18 hours to clean a bedroom. It only takes that long when I look at the whole thing. But when I go, hey, first I'm just going to clean off my dresser, and then I'm going to move from my dresser and I'm going to clean off this bookshelf, then I'm just going to pick up the trash off the floor, then I can move to the clothes, then I can move to the toys, then I can, and before you know it, you've done one task at a time and your room is completely spotless and you got it done faster and you got it done better.
Speaker 1:Why? Because you started with one thing at a time. That's why 2 Corinthians 3.18, paul says this. We then, with unveiled eyes, see his glory are being transformed to the same glory from one degree to the next. Because if you were to look at your Christian life and go, I have all this stuff to fix, you know what you're going to do Nothing, you're going to go. Oh, I can't do all of this. But if you just start with one thing and then move to the next and the next, and the next and the next, before you know it, five years down the road, you are a complete different person. And it just started with one thing at a time.
Speaker 1:So now, on the flip side, weep with those who weep. Some of you in here may be like me and you're like, hey, tear ducts completely shut down when I was like three. That's not what he's talking about, right? He's not sitting here going. You literally have to cry, some of you. It would be a good thing for you to cry. It would be a good thing for you to break that hardened heart of yours and I go. I'm probably top of the list at that one, right? But what is he talking about when he says weep with those who weep.
Speaker 1:It actually has more to do with have compassion on people. Some of us in here, like you, see those people on the side of the road and they're like holding their signs and the first thing in your mind is this Jobs are plentiful, go get a job. And I get that, because the Bible does teach let he who not work not eat. But do we have compassion for that person? Do we look at that person and go, hey, regardless of their circumstances, they are still a human being made in the image of God. We just like kind of look at them and go, hey, they made their choices, they made their bed, let them sleep in it. Because, if I'm honest, I probably fall more onto the other side until I can really catch myself and go, whoa, that is not at all what I should be thinking, because it's very easy for me to go, hey, you could have made different choices, you could have worked harder.
Speaker 1:But last week, what did we look at? Father, forgive them. They know not what they do right. Last week we looked at bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse them. Have grace with others the same way Jesus has grace with us. We want to know how you can be compassionate with people Weep, with those who weep, and some of you in here you may be a lot like me and you're a fixer. Like you know, I've worked at places where you have to do like personality tests and like one of them was strength finders. Like what I score highest in is restoration, and as a pastor, that's a good thing to score high in right Because you like to see things be restored. But it's also what I do for fun, like I genuinely enjoy just fixing things when we change the air out.
Speaker 1:Was it like a pain in the butt? Yeah, it was, but I won't stop until I've fixed it. Why? Because that's just what makes me tick, and in 99% of my life that's a good thing, you know. When it's not a good thing, though, like when Debbie comes to me and she's like my back hurts, my hip hurts, my heart hurts, like Debbie, if you don't know, she's going through a lot right now. Her mom's not doing really good health-wise.
Speaker 1:I had to stop the other three nights ago and look at her and go Deb, look, I'm just going to go ahead and tell you right now I'm sorry because I know I'm not there for you like that, like it really hit me how cold I can be to this and as someone who dealt with the death of a parent, I know exactly what she's feeling. I know how hard that is. But in my mind I went but here's what you do Like, here's how you fix what you're feeling right now. You know why? Because I fix things and through the years it's been a lot of different things and we've had a lot of arguments that have come from her coming to me and just going hey, my back hurts, my hip hurts, whatever. Because my first thing is have you taken ibuprofen? No, okay. Did you ice it? No. Did you go see a doctor? No. Then I don't want to hear you complain about it because you're not doing any of the things you need to do to make yourself feel better. Therefore, you no longer have the ability to sit and complain about this and, on one hand, I think there's wisdom in that, but, on the other hand, what I've learned through many arguments over the years sometimes she isn't looking for a solution either. She's just looking to see hey, are you with me on this? Are you walking with me through this? Do you have my back? Like, am I important to you. Will you shut down your life for me? She's not actually looking to feel better about something.
Speaker 1:A shorter illustration I can give you that shows the same thing is at my dad's memorial service. The next person that came up to me and was like, hey, he's in a better place or hey, he's no longer hurting. I was going to disqualify myself from ministry with Because, although I understand what you're trying to do, I do Understand there are not words you are going to be able to tell me in this moment, and what I would have rather had was what one of my buddies did. He just showed up. He didn't say anything, he didn't try like. He came up, he gave me a hug and then he was like I'm sorry, and that was it. He allowed me the opportunity when I was ready to start talking. He wasn't like hey, look, you know, jesus called him home. He wasn't like hey, look, you know, jesus called him home. He's better now. He's not hurting anymore. He didn't do any of that. He was just there with me, and sometimes that's what we need. Sometimes all we want to know is that the people in our lives are just with us through thick and thin. Think about it In the biblical example I'm going to give you for those of you that struggle with Bible memorization.
Speaker 1:Right, you're those guys that are like, oh, I can never remember Bible verses. Here's the one you should remember this week. You ready? John 11 35 says this Jesus wept. Every single one of us in this room tomorrow or next Sunday can come and go. Hey, I did the Bible memorization from this week. Jesus wept. That's all you got to do, john 11 35.
Speaker 1:Now let me ask you, though does anybody in here know why Jesus was weeping Because Lazarus died? Now let me ask you, though, does anybody in here know why Jesus was weeping Because Lazarus died? Now let me ask you, though, you biblical scholars in here did Jesus know what was about to happen? Did Jesus know he's about to walk to that tomb? He's about to go. Lazarus, come on out. You're not allowed to be dead anymore. Lazarus is going to rise from the grave and walk out of that tomb.
Speaker 1:Yep, jesus knew all of that was going to happen, and yet, when Jesus shows up and Mary and Martha are sitting there just in tears and ugly, crying, and all of that thing, what does Jesus do? He wept with them. He wept with something. He cried with them. That's what he did. He didn't walk up and he didn't go hey, girls, suck it up, buttercup. I got this and, let's be honest, he had the power to get it. He knew he was about to raise them, but yet he gives us this illustration. He cried with them Sometimes.
Speaker 1:That's what we need to be doing. We need to show compassion to those people. We need to understand that for you, you may not get it, but it may be their worst day ever. You know, I got written up one time as a for being too nice, but I went. You don't get it. You didn't call me because it's a birthday party. I'm not the fireman. You called because it was your worst day ever and you needed something Between you and the danger. Why on earth would I not have compassion with them? Why on earth would I not sit here and weep with those who weep? See, that's what Jesus did. He knew Lazarus wasn't staying dead, but yet he wept because he had compassion and he knew at that moment.
Speaker 1:They just need to know I'm with them. They just need to know I'm here. They just need to know they can come to me. See, and some of you today, you may need to hear this. Listen, jesus is there for you. There's a reason why Jesus goes. Hey, take my yoke, for it is easy, because he's sitting here going.
Speaker 1:All those burdens, all those things that are stressing you, all those things that are trying to suffocate you, those thorns if you were to look at Matthew 13 and the parable of the sower that are trying to choke you out, and I'm going to be honest, there's a lot of them. In life, things are going to break. Your house is going to fall apart, marriage is going to be rough, kids are going to not listen and they're going to be things. We came up Tuesday I think it was to open up the sharing center. We're standing there in the doorway just saying hello to everyone, and here comes a fire inspector to go hey, we're here for your fire inspection. No email, no phone call. No, nothing like hey, this is the day we're coming up. Things are going to happen.
Speaker 1:Jesus tells us in John 13,. In this world, you will have trouble, but take heart, I've overcome the world. Think about that. The creator of heaven and earth, the one when the sky was starless and the void of the night, that same one. He goes hey, I'm with you, though you ain't got nothing to worry about. Just sit down. I got this. I forget what it was. The other day, yesterday or the day before JT when did Mommy have trouble getting up out of the chair? Was that yesterday, yesterday? No, it was Yesterday, friday.
Speaker 1:Debbie couldn't get out of the recliner. Okay, her back was just killing her. She tweaked something. We don't know what happened Could be a kidney stone, who knows, I don't have x-ray vision, but she's like ah, I got to get up and I don't even remember what it was like. Put something away or something like that. Oh, yes, you were going to Goodwill and I was like, look, our daughters have their learner's permit. You're taking them with you anyway. Let Gabby drive. No, no, no, no, I got it, I got it. I got it. I got it. Debbie, just let Gabby drive. She's a good driver, she's got this. You can't get out of a chair. Why are you trying to drive a car? No, I got it, I got it, I got it.
Speaker 1:That is how most of us treat our relationship with Jesus. Jesus is sitting here going no, no, no, no, I got this, let me get it. And you are so stubborn and prideful that you're sitting here looking at Jesus going no, no, no, no, no, I got it. I'm going to limp along to the finish line. Jesus is sitting here going, just sit in the chair, I'll carry you there. And you're like no, no, no, no, I got it. Why? Because we can't have compassion. See Jesus again in Matthew 28,. Like I told you, he's giving the great commission and he goes. Go, therefore, and make disciples, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you and behold, I am with you, always, to the end of the age. That's his promise.
Speaker 1:Here's the problem with a lot of Christian thought. Jesus's promise wasn't that your life would be full of prosperity and health and wealth. Jesus's promise was this I will be with you. Why do we weep with those who weep? Because Jesus is with us. Why do we walk side by side with those who are struggling and going through it? Because Jesus is here with us. Why do we do this? Because this is what Jesus did for us, and if we're to be Jesus to others, then we got to do the things that Jesus does with us. This is why people want to know you ain't going anywhere. It doesn't matter how bad it gets, I'm still here for you. Now that doesn't mean I don't offer suggestions later down the road, but in that moment you know what I'm going to do I'm going to weep with those who weep.
Speaker 1:See, jesus knew what was laying ahead for his disciples, in fact, for the 12 apostles. How many of them made it through? None, they're all dead. Like none of them are still running around right now. Right, see, jesus knew. And even if we look at John and we go, hey, john made it the longest. John was boiled alive before he was exiled to an island to live by himself in a cave.
Speaker 1:Now, I don't know if you think that's prosperity, but I don't, and those aren't the things I want for my life. But Jesus knew what was lying ahead and he went. But hey, I'm with you. This is why we take away all power when we walk in here and we go. I'm good, I got this, because we don't even allow Jesus the opportunity to be there for us, because you have brothers and sisters in here who are sitting here going. Hey, I'll walk with you through anything. We'll figure it out together. It may be rough, it may be hard, it may be a long road, it may be full of ups and downs, but I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. And that's what it means to weep with those who weep is to sit here and go. I got your back.
Speaker 1:One of the biggest things my heart ever broke for with JT was this when I was in school and you were on the football team, it didn't matter if you got along with each other Like, there were guys I straight would like get into fistfights with at practice, but let something go wrong during the day. And if you never played football like offense and defense usually don't see eye to eye right. The big saying is offense or defense wins the games, but offense gets the glory. Defense wins the games, but offense gets the glory. But even if it's a player from the other side of the ball, they got your back through thick and thin. Nowadays it isn't like that. Nowadays it's a very much individual sport and it's all about look at me and look at my highlights and my amazing accomplishments. And my heart broke because I went.
Speaker 1:I had people in my life that I knew I could go to, because every Friday night we would go into battle with one another. We don't have that anymore in today's day, like we don't have like yes, I get it. You have 4,000 friends. Let your car break down at 3 am. Then reach out to your 4,000 friends and see how many replies you get back, like when the rubber actually hits the road. How many of them are really going to the great theologian Tracy Lawrence.
Speaker 1:Find out who your friends are. Somebody's going to drop everything, run out and crank up their car, hit the gas, get there fast. Never stop to ask what's in it for me or that's way too far. They just show on up with their big old heart. Find out who your friends are. This is why y'all that are like, hey, country music is terrible. Y'all should start, man. Not with today's country. It is terrible, I agree with you wholeheartedly. Like if it's bro country, like it's garbage. They're just trying to sound like every other singer out there now.
Speaker 1:But see how many of you are that friend. How many of you don't have that friend. How many of you are sitting here trying to do this thing alone, sitting here, going. I have to get it because I don't have anyone else with me. How much of that is your fault, because you don't want anyone with you. This is why Jesus, through Paul, says this rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep Now as we close today.
Speaker 1:There are two things this week you need to do. Number one rejoice with someone, genuinely rejoice with them. Be there for them, be excited for them. Be there for them, be excited for them. And number two let someone know you're there for them. Go out of your way to show someone hey, I'm here for you, and not someone who lives in your own house, because that's pretty easy, right? Like Debbie should, at this point, know hey, I'm here for you. Been doing this thing for 21 years now. Like if, at this point, she doesn't know that we got some bigger problems. But what about Kevin? What about Steven? What about Miss Holly? Like, do they have anyone who's sitting here going? Hey, I'm here for you, I don't know? Good job, ms Dallin. So those are the two things we need to knock out this week.
Speaker 1:I'll tell you right now, it'll be a lot. If you're like, hey, this is too much for me, you can rejoice with me Tuesday. I'm seeing the blue angels. I guarantee by Monday night I have some kind of crazy fish. It'll be easy for you this week. You're just like hey, show me a picture of what you caught. Yeah, if you just hit me up like Monday night and you're like just show me a picture of what you caught. You'll either be able to rejoice with me or weep with me, depending on how that trip went right, like super easy. My only prayer as far as that goes is that I catch more than JT. That is always my only prayer. Even if I only catch one and he catches nothing, that is a win for me. So I'm gonna pray.
Speaker 1:Remember, we got two things to do this week, father, I just thank you so much for your word and I ask, and I pray God, that as we move from this moment, moment forward, that, father, we start to become you to those around us, that we can rejoice with those who are rejoicing, we can weep with those who are weeping, father, that, regardless of what we have to be, that we can be you, because that's what you've called us to be. That's why sanctification is conforming to the image of Jesus. That we look like you, that we sound like you, that we act like you. Now, father, we stop looking inward, we start looking outward and that, father, we are really here for one another. That way, no matter how dark it is in this world, no matter, father, what is going on and what is stressing. We know we have someone in our corner to fight with us. Father, we pray this in Jesus' name Amen.