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Putting Yourself In Their Place

But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
Luke 22:32

Voltaire tells of a king whose favorite horse was lost, so he offered a reward for finding it. Many wise men tried and failed, but a simpleton in his court found it and brought it back. 'How did you do it?' asked the king. The man replied, 'I thought, if I were a horse where would I go? Putting myself in his place, I soon found him!'

Compassion is just putting yourself in the other person's place! It is asking God to help you understand what is really going on with them; hearing what they are not saying as well as what they are; understanding that their anger is only masking their fear; that they are crying out for help in the only way they know. Before Peter denied his Lord, Jesus said to him: And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers..' When grace touches your life, you will always reach back for others! 

Quit acting as if you made it on your own. It was God's grace that brought you through, right? So go ahead and reach out to others in love. If they reject you they will only push you closer to the crucified life. If they accept you tell them, 'Whatever you need, God has it. In spite of your circumstances it can be done, and I'll stand with you until it is.' The heart of the Gospel is that God loved us enough to come to where we were, so that we would love others enough to go to where they are.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to better understand others and what they face and are going through each day so that I can be an instrument of your grace and mercy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen