“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.” (Hebrews 10:24)
To be considerate we have to be sensitive. We have to carefully take into account how another feels. It doesn’t matter whether we believe they are right or wrong to feel a certain way. Initially, all that matters is that we recognize how they feel.
If we are not willing to know another, not as they necessarily should be, but as they are in their present state, we will be ill-equipped to minister to them. To be without sympathy, compassion or pity, makes us harsh and hard. God’s compassion is unfailing. His pity toward us proceeds from His willingness to know our frame. “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust” (Psalm 103:13,14).
It is “through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us” (Lk. 1:78) God took upon Himself our frame, and became touched by the feeling of our infirmities. He felt all the sorrow, grief, and pain we feel. He has known our soul in adversities. He has suffered being tempted. And yet, He never took the wrong way of escape out of His suffering.
Our great High Priest relates to us. He does not look down on us. He does not place Himself above us. He came down to our level to bring us up to His level. Our ability to minister to another is severely limited if they believe we don’t “get” them, not having tasted from the cup they are drinking. Jesus fully drank from our cup. He bore our griefs, and carried our sorrows.
God calls us to be considerate. It starts with the willingness to know another, not distance ourselves from them. Consider how they are tempted and tried. Consider how they suffer with fear or anger or bitterness. Consider yourself, how you likewise suffer being tempted. Discover the tender mercy and considerate heart of your Merciful and Faithful High Priest. He does not despise our infirmities, He is touched because He knows how we feel. He felt the same.