Romans 12: 15-17.  "Rejoice with them that do  rejoice, and  weep  with  them that weep.  Be of the  same  mind  one toward another.  Mind not high things, but condescend to men of   low  estate.   Be  not  wise  in  your  own   conceits. Recompense  to  no man evil.  Provide things honest  in  the sight of all men."

      See  how many things we have already found  that  enter into  the making of a Christian character.  If we have  been under the impression that it is a slight effort to build  up to  the standard set in the scriptures, we can begin to  see that  we  have been mistaken.  The essentials must  be  laid deep   and   solid   before  we  can   build   thereon   the manifestations  which  will  indicate a real  desire  to  be Christ-like,  that  is,  to have him formed in  us  so  that others may discern it, and God will approve it.  Let us keep those in mind that have been noted, as we proceed.

     Now,  we take up other traits to be built up and  added to these.  We may feel a little disconcerted and discouraged as  we  think of the points mentioned, and of  those  to  be added,  and  what it will mean to attain to the  whole,  and consider that we are so far short of it.

     We  may liken ourselves to the student  who,  beginning with his course of study, thinks on what lies before him, to attain  to  the  position he desires.   There  is  the  slow progress; the concentration of mind required; going step  by step  and  no  long strides; a multitude  of  drawbacks  and repeated  failures.   Then, if the teacher  were  harsh  and unreasonable,  and  disposed  to lay heavy  tasks  and  give little help, the outlook would be discouraging, indeed.

     This is not true in our case, however.  Our Teacher  is gentle,  kind, forbearing, tender-hearted,  sympathetic  and ever ready to help, and understands perfectly our needs,  so that the "willing and obedient" have much to encourage  them at  every step.  "He knoweth our frame, he remembereth  that we are dust."  So, let us press on, having a heart desire to please him who is so patient and tender with us.

     Verse 15.  "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with  them  that  weep."   Sympathy  with  others  in  their different  circumstances  and  emotions is  essential  to  a helpful  Christian  character.   If  we  will  not  try   to understand and enter into the emotions of our brethren,  and those with whom we are thrown, we cannot get close enough to them to be of help to them.  A wall will grow up between  us and  them,  shutting   us out of  each  other's  lives,  and putting us out of each other's reach.  This will be to  lose sight of the great example of Jesus, so that we shall  never attain in any great measure to the mark of the high  calling of God in Christ Jesus, and so miss the prize.  If we are to "so run as to obtain," we must keep before us one  prominent trait of Jesus--"he went about doing good."

     We  cannot do good to others unless we can  enter  into their  lives,  nor can we get any uplift  from  their  lives without  being bound to them by common emotions.   If,  when they rejoice, we are cold and unsympathetic, it will be like pouring  cold water upon them.  It will be to bring a  cloud between them and their sun, and to darken the light that has shown  into their hearts.  Even if the cloud is over us,  we should endeavor with God's help, to show we are glad the sun is shining on some one.

     Have you not at times stood where a cloud cast a shadow around you, and looked to the hill ahead where the  sunlight is  crowning it with beauty?  You can hardly take your  eyes from  it,  and you watch eagerly as it draws  nearer  toward you.  Such a feeling will be experienced in "rejoicing  with them that do rejoice."

     Besides its good effect on you, to lift you up, it will encourage   them.   If  we  are  cold  and   look   entirely indifferent toward them, it may make them feel that  perhaps their  own feelings are misleading, and they  are  deceived, and that they are foolish to think they have any ground  for gladness,  and we then draw them into our state of  feeling, when their state of gladness is what we should be seeking.

     David was in a state of gloom while his child was  sick unto  death, but when it died the expectation of meeting  it in  heaven changed his aspect to one of gladness.   But  for the time the child lay sick and in the valley of the  shadow of  death,  his sorrow was real and  oppressive.   So,  even though  trying to have faith that the light will break,  the shadows in the world are sure to come.  The sorrows are real and the grief is sincere.

     Jesus  knew  that this was true, so his  great,  tender heart was touched with the sorrow of those about him.  It is recorded by Mark when Jesus looked upon a great multitude of people,  he was "moved with much compassion toward them  for they  were  as sheep not having a shepherd."  The  grief  of Mary and Martha touched the Savior and "Jesus wept."  A most comforting   description   of  Jesus  as  our   priest   and intercessor  is that he can be "touched with the feeling  of our infirmities."

     How  can we, then, have "Christ formed in us," and  not "weep with them that weep"?  If we are cold and unresponsive to  our  brethren and sisters when they are  in  trouble,  a chord between us is broken, and their sorrow is the  heavier because  they feel not our arms about them to hold  them  up and strengthen them for the load they must carry.

     Picture  in  your mind Paul and the elders  of  Ephesus when  they  met  at Miletus before he left  them  to  go  to Jerusalem, and their grief at the thought that perhaps  they should  see  his face no more.  See how closely  they  stand together.  Tears fill their eyes and drop from their cheeks. They hold each other's hands.  Their arms are about the neck of  the  loved apostle.  They fall upon their knees  on  the sand,  and  in broken voice he leads them to the  throne  of grace  for help in their time of need, while heaving  bosoms and choking sobs mark the love that draws them all together, and makes the parting so heart-breaking.  Their deep  sorrow has  bound them together as nothing else could,  and  chords are drawn about their hearts that shall not break as long as life  lasts.  It is the result of "weeping with  those  that weep."

     God forbid that our hearts should grow so hard and cold that we cannot weep with them who weep, who have burdens and cares  that  oppress  them, and sorrows  that  pierce  their hearts!   If we cannot enter into the valley with them,  how shall  we  help them up to the heights  where  the  sunlight shall  kiss  away their tears, and the purer air  of  gospel promise  and  comfort  shall strengthen  them  to  think  on earth's mortal plane with purified memories, while a clearer horizon  enables  them  to  look  with  stronger  faith  and brighter hope toward the land where tears are wiped away  by the tender hand of God himself, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away and we shall enter into rest.

     Verse  16.   "Be of the same mind one  toward  another. Mind  not high things, but condescend to men of low  estate. Be not wise in your own conceits."  This cannot mean that two persons shall always have the same judgment about matters, nor does the expression seem to mean  that.   It  is  to have the  same  mind  "toward"  one another.   There  should  be the  same  forbearance  between brethren.   There  should be the same  charity  of  thought. Harsh  judgment must not be indulged.  Each should think  of the  other  as  a child of God.  One may be of  strong  and educated  mind;  the other might have the  simplicity  of  a child and be unlearned; but they are to think of each  other as brethren.  No matter how much they may differ on  matters of opinion, they must both be determined that they will keep fellowship  in  love  and  treat  each  other  kindly,  each remembering  that Jesus is the friend of the other  and  for his  love for him laid down his life.  We must be  kind  and tender with the friends of our Master.

     This feeling for brethren must be studiously encouraged and cultivated if we are to get along together in peace, and enjoy  the company of one another.  Although each will  have his  own  judgment,  they  can get  along  in  agreement  as followers  of Jesus.  They must not be trying to  force  the judgment  of each other.  Forbearance is a golden key  among brethren  in the church.  It will win a brother if  he  sees that we are not disposed to try to lord it over him.

     "Mind not high things."  A proud and haughty mind  will not win love.  He who is thus forgets the humble Son of man. He was meek and lowly in heart.  He was the Son of the great King of earth and heaven, but he was lowly "in heart."   His disposition was truly humble as it came from his heart.   It was  not mere pretense.  Jesus spoke against  the  Pharisees because  they  were given to seeking high places.   He  said they  loved the uppermost rooms and the chief seats  in  the synagogues.

     Jesus  spoke a parable on this point. (Luke 14:  7-11.) In  this  he instructs, "Sit down in the lowest  room;  that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go  up higher; then shalt thou have worship in the  presence of  them  that  sit  at meat  with  thee."   "For  whosoever exalteth  himself  shall  be abased; and  he  that  humbleth himself  shall be exalted."  Therefore, we  should  remember that  it is contrary to the teaching of Jesus to  mind  high things.

     "But condescend to men of low estate."  Passing by  and treating  with disdain men of low estate would grow  out  of minding  high  things.  By the use of the word  "estate"  we cannot understand this sentence to mean low in the sense  of vulgar and vile, but it rather refers to those whose fortune and  place might be limited as to worldly means, or even  to be  simple  in mind.  Jesus showed great  sympathy  for  the poor, and all his followers should emulate his example.   To be rich is not necessarily to be proud and haughty, but many give  way  to the bad influence of riches and  show  a  very hateful   spirit  toward  those  less  fortunate  in   their possessions.  Such a spirit is most unbecoming in those  who are the professed followers of the meek and lowly Jesus.   I heard  it said of a very intellectual sister in  the  church that she was just as considerate of the illiterate and  poor as she could be, and made herself just as companionable with them as she did with her equals in mind and training.   This was commendable, indeed.

     "Be  not wise in your own conceits."  For one to  think too highly of himself is to render it impossible for him  to observe  the  other points in this verse.   He  would  never condescend  to be of the same mind toward his brethren  that he  would  have them be toward him.  He would look  down  on them,  and have them look up to him.  Nor would he  feel  to condescend  to  men  of low estate;  he  would  always  hold himself above them.  The third verse of this chapter  covers the  ground very completely:  "For I say through  the  grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to  think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to  think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith." When  one  is wise in his own conceits he will  have  a disposition  to  try  to  drive all others  to  his  way  of thinking, for he cannot conceive that any one else knows  as much as he or can see as clearly.  Would he but think of his state  of  condemnation and corruption in sin, and  that  he owes  all his hope for the future to the free favor of  God, he would not feel puffed up.

       "Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud?

     Like a swift-fleeting meteor, a fast-flying cloud,

       A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave,

      He passeth from life to his rest in the grave."

     Verse 17.  "Recompense to no man evil for evil."   This and  the fourteenth verse seem closely related  in  meaning. While  most  of  the  exhortations  have  reference  to  the dealings  of  Christians with one another, it cannot  so  be said  of  this verse.  This is a general rule  that  applies between  the saints and any and all men.  "Recompense to  no man  evil for evil."  The fourteenth verse refers  to  those who persecute you.  This verse is in regard to being wronged but not persecuted.      It is the disposition of some people to take  advantage of  others,  to defraud, and cheat, and lie.   God's  people must  not stoop to such things.  If a man defraud you,   you must not defraud so as to recompense him in the same measure he  did  evil to you.  If he spread evil reports  about  you because  it  is his disposition to lie, you  could  not  lie about  him.  If he cheats, you cannot cheat; it  is  beneath your character, for you are to "provide things honest in the sight  of all men."  You are not to swerve from doing  right with  all  men.  You are to tell the truth, to  give  honest weights,  and do justly.  It soon stains the character of  a member  of  the church if it is known that he  is  given  to dishonesty  in dealings.  The law given to Israel  was  just and  good,  and  so, still is in force.   "Ye  shall  do  no unrighteousness  in judgment, in mete yard, in weight, or  in measure.   Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and  a just hin, shall ye have."

     In whatever way others may do evil, if it affect us, we are  not to do evil on account of their action.  Of  course, this does not by any means imply that men shall not be  held to  account before the law, and before magistrates,  but  it has  reference  to  our taking up  matters  personally,  and individually taking the matter into our own hands.  This  is more  particularly mentioned in the nineteenth verse,  so  I will leave it to be more fully treated there.

     It  should be noted that we are not only to  study  the scriptures as to how we shall live with our brethren in  the church, but we are to live blameless before all men that God may be honored, and that the church may command respect.  We cannot be as perfect as was our Master, but his character is to  ever  stand  before us as the mark to  which  we  should press.   We may feel to be discouraged at times  because  we have  fallen so far short of it, but shall we go back?   No. There is but one word to which we should give heed, and that is to go forward.  Every step in that direction should  more nearly conform us to what Paul desired so much to see in the Galatians, that Christ should be formed in them; not  merely in outward form, but a real heart desire for  righteousness, such as was to be seen in the life of Jesus.