I Feel Your Pain...
Hebrews Chapter 13
Scripture: Hebrews 13:3
“Remember the prisoners as if chained with them – those who are mistreated – since you yourselves are in the body also.”
Observation: There are so many different verses that I could chose from this chapter but this verse just jumped out at me. The beginning of this verse, “Remember…as if chained with them,” is a powerful statement. I believe this verse is not simply telling us to be empathetic but is saying that we must be in some way connected to them. Cain asked God in Genesis 4:9 “Am I my brother’s keeper?” I believe that the answer is YES, YOU ARE YOUR BROTHER’S KEEPER! The author of Hebrews is telling us that we are to pray for them and minister to them as if someone were doing this for us. This is carrying out what we call “the golden rule” where we are to treat others in the way that we want to be treated; only this verse even takes it a step farther. This is sharing in someone’s suffering and I believe even feeling their pain, emotionally and physically through intercession. Asking God to allow you to feel what they are going through so you may intercede (pray) for them. This is powerful because the Holy Spirit allows you to “feel their pain” and he helps you know what to pray.
Application: Do I even care about people to this level? I may not have brothers and sisters in Christ who are in prison. But I know that I have brothers and sisters who are suffering in some way. I know that there are brothers and sisters who are being mistreated that I can intercede for. I need to make sure that I take the time out of my schedule to pray for them. I have to ask the Holy Spirit to intercede through me on their behalf.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you wept over Jerusalem as you interceded for the city. Help me to remember the people that you have called me to serve. Help me to pray for those that are with me and like you. Pray also for those who would seek to harm me. Holy Spirit, today bring to my mind those whom you are calling me to remember.
