The 12 Days of LCC – A Year-End Devotional Series

We are walking through the 12 Days of Christmas that end the day before Epiphany, January 6. This devotional series covers those 12 days and reflects on what God is doing through the ministry of Lutheran Church Charities.

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I Can Relate -The Second Day of LCC

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. – Romans 12:15-16

Presidents live under the almost constant harsh glare of public scrutiny. Some of what they say becomes part of the American lexicon. President Bill Clinton often asserted, “I feel your pain,” and it became a comic catch phrase that is still repeated today. Phrases like that try to communicate relationship. And they resonate with people because we are meant to be in relationships. It’s the way God created us.

We also have a way of ferreting out genuine relationships from phony ones through God’s gift of discernment. Paul gives a wonderful glimpse of what real relationships look like in Romans. We engage with people right where they are. Are you troubled? We’re troubled with you. Are you celebrating? We celebrate with you. We are not too proud to get in the middle of your life situation when you’re in need and we’re not so conceited that we aren’t willing to receive help in our times of need.

We can relate because our life experiences are the same. There are triumphs and tragedies, times of plenty and of want, we all ache for a hug and appreciate a shoulder to cry on. When we embrace this truth harmony happens. When we run from it we are outside God’s design, alone and lost. May all of us run with arms wide open into the blessing of healthy, God pleasing relationships.

Prayer
Lord, I am so thankful you have created me for relationships. In good days and bad draw me into the lives of others so that I might comfort and be comforted, rejoice and mourn. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.