Sympathy

Recently I read a post in Pastor John Hopler's Morale Booster to GCC leaders.  He wrote:

Pastors are always helping people work through relational conflicts. When doing mediation, consider 1 Peter 3:8: "Let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kind hearted, humble in spirit." According to this verse, there is a close relationship between sympathy and harmony. Sympathy means "feeling what the other person is feeling." Time and time again, I have found that if both parties in a conflict can genuinely feel what the other person is feeling, harmony will occur.


I think his thought is good for all Christians who are trying to help others resolve conflicts.  Let's help those we are helping to put themselves in the other person's shoes in order to evoke some sympathy for one another.

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