Sympathy Pain 同情之痛

[Dexu Xia]

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

Today's Scripture:  I Corinthians 12: 21-26

Today's Insights  Of the many metaphors Paul uses to describe the church’s identity and mission (for example, temple, fellow citizens, God’s family), “the body” is probably his favorite, using it often to promote the oneness, unity, and solidarity of all believers in Jesus under the headship of Christ (see Ephesians 5:23).  He uses the body metaphor in 1 Corinthians 12:12: “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” He highlights the church’s unity in diversity and instructs believers to prioritize their mutual concern for each other’s well-being, saying that everyone “should have equal concern for each other” (v. 25). Elsewhere, he instructs believers to “be devoted to one another in love” (Romans 12:10) and to step up to serve each other in practical ways (vv. 3-13). Particularly, he tells believers to “be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep” (v. 15 nlt).

Today's Devotional   When I injured my ring finger, I expected months of pain before regaining its full function. As I practiced the prescribed exercises, the finger next to it began to throb, so I consulted my doctor. “Sympathy pain,” he said. A branching between the nerves of the ring and pinky fingers causes dependence on one another. If one finger hurts, the other aches in sympathy.

The apostle Paul uses the human body to illustrate the uniqueness and unity of God’s people. In 1 Corinthians 12:21-26, he reinforces how valuable each individual member is to the healthy functioning of the whole. Then he turns his attention to the unity achieved when we connect with each other: “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it” (v. 26). His description of the church’s interconnectedness is echoed in these verses, as we ought to “mourn with those who mourn,” and “carry each other’s burdens” (Romans 12:15; Galatians 6:2).  Today, as I extend my hand to greet someone or grab a spoon to prepare a meal for guests, I notice the strain in both my ring finger and my pinky. The various parts of our physical bodies work together to express pain and to strengthen each other toward health. I thank God that He reveals our need for connection to each other in His spiritual body, the church, through sympathy pain.

Reflect & Pray

How is God inviting you to suffer with another in order to strengthen you both? How have others suffered with you?

Dear God, please help me be open to Your invitation to suffer with my brothers and sisters that we might all be strengthened.

By Elisa Morgan

“你们各人的重担要互相担当，如此，就完全了基督的律法”。（加拉太书 6章2 节）

今日经文：哥林多前书 12章 21-26 节

今日洞见:   保罗用过许多比喻来描述教会的身份和使命（例如，圣殿、同胞、神的家），“身体”可能是他最喜欢的，他经常用它来强调所有信徒在基督的带领下的团结和合一（见以弗所书 5:23）。他在哥林多前书 12章12节中使用了身体的比喻：“就如身子是一个，却有许多肢体，然而肢体虽多，仍是一个身子；基督也是这样。” 他强调教会在多元中的合一，并教导信徒优先考虑彼此的福祉，说每个人“都应该彼此相顾”（25 节）。在其他地方，他教导信徒“要用爱心彼此相爱”（罗马书 12:10），并以实际行动彼此服侍（3-13 节）。他特别告诉信徒“要与喜乐的人同乐，与哀哭的人同哭”（15 节）。

今日灵修: 我的无名指受伤了，我以为要忍受数月的疼痛才能完全恢复功能。当我按照医生的指示进行练习时，旁边的手指开始隐隐作痛，于是我去看医生。医生说：“这是同情痛。”无名指和小指之间的神经分支导致它们彼此依赖。如果一根手指疼痛，另一根手指也会同情地疼痛。

  使徒保罗用人体来比喻上帝子民的独特性和合一性。在哥林多前书12:21-26中，他强调了每个肢体对于整体健康运作的重要性。然后，他将注意力转向我们彼此联结时所达成的合一：“若一个肢体受苦，所有的肢体就一同受苦”（26节）。他对教会相互联系的描述在这些经文中得到了呼应，正如我们应该“与哀哭的人要同哭”，“各人的重担要互相担当”（罗马书12:15；加拉太书6:2）。今天，当我伸出手去问候某人，或拿起勺子为客人准备餐点时，我注意到我的无名指和小指都感到酸痛。我们身体的各个部位协同工作，表达疼痛，并彼此扶持，以求健康。

  我感谢上帝，他通过肢体之间同情的痛苦，揭示了我们在基督属灵的身体，即教会中彼此联结的必要性。

反思与祷告 上帝如何邀请你与他人一同受苦使你们彼此得坚固？其他人又如何与你一同受苦？ 亲爱的上帝，请帮助我敞开心扉，接受你的邀请，与我的弟兄姐妹一同受苦，使我们都能得坚固。 作者：伊莉莎·摩根