How
important are other people's opinions to you? There are individuals who will never be swayed by what others think
or believe. Then there are those whose lives hinge on other people's opinions. Fortunately,
most people will consider what others say and then make an independent decision.
The older brother in Jesus' story of
the lost son was emotionally locked into an inflexible way of thinking. To him,
his younger brother made a choice that forever separated him from the
privileges and rights of belonging to the family. To him, it was incomprehensible
that his brother could come home and be embraced as an important family member.
The older brother's indignation kept him
from celebrating his brother's homecoming. He appeared incapable of feeling
empathy for his brother or father. Empathy clears the way for understanding
what's important to another person. Empathy encourages you to walk with someone
through a troubled or a happy occasion. God's love and redemption can melt a
heart of stone and clear the way for compassion.
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