When was the last time you cried for someone else?
There is a big difference between being nice and being kind—a difference many people haven’t discovered. For example, a nice person seeks the approval of others, wants everything to sound pleasant, avoids discomfort, and only has a surface-level understanding. In other words, someone who is nice is focused on outward approval.
But a kind person is completely different, because they genuinely want to be good on the inside. A kind person wants what is good for others, acts with sincerity, does what is right—not what is easy—and behaves with depth and intention.
The nice person says: “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
The kind person says: “I care about you enough to help you grow.”
The same happens with sympathy and empathy. A person who feels sympathy feels pity, compassion, or concern. They recognize someone’s pain.
But an empathetic person feels with someone and tries to understand their experience from their perspective.
Now that the difference is clear, we see that the Lord Jesus, when He walked on this earth, didn’t seek to be sympathetic or nice; He sought to speak the truth.
That’s why the Bible teaches us:
“When the city came into view, He wept over it. ‘If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you! But now it’s too late. The days are coming when your enemies will build fortifications around you, surround you, and press in from every side.
They will smash you and your children to the ground, and they will not leave one stone on top of another. All this because you did not recognize or welcome God’s personal visit.’”
— Luke 19:41–44
Here, the Lord Jesus wept because the people of Jerusalem rejected salvation. He felt the pain of the lost souls—and of those who were going to be lost.
That’s why, when He taught His disciples, He said:
“Let Me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I have loved you, you must love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are My disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”
— John 13:34–35
The love of God is not a feeling; it is a commandment—merciful, kind, just, and empathetic. When Jesus walked this earth, nothing was too much when it came to helping a lost soul. This is why He taught His disciples that they could not carry His mark unless they had love for lost souls the same way He did.
And this is the mindset of a disciple who is born of God: someone who truly weeps for souls, feels their pain as if it were their own, and treats everyone with dignity.
Once a month, throughout the United States, a discipleship meeting is held for those who want to grow in their faith. During this time, topics like those in this article are taught. Everyone has a moment to ask questions and clear any doubts.
If you’d like to know more, please call us at (800) 581-4141.
Or visit us at 625 S Bonnie Brae St, Los Angeles, CA 90057, or at the nearest Universal Church.
