“Remember…those who are mistreated as if you yourselves are suffering,” Hebrews 13:3. 
<br />     I remember a “Doonesbury” cartoon fromn decades ago in which “Boopsie” was fairly oblivious to the plight of people on the receiving end of the U.S. bombing campaign in Cambodia, but very sensitive to the plight of baby ducks which might be injured. Images of harp seals, rhinos and elephants mutilated for their horns or ivory, dolphins netted by tuna fishermen, waterfowl polluted by oil spills, and even horribly neglected dogs and cats tug at our heart strings as stewards of God's creation. As Christians citizens we have a responsibility to see that God's creatures are cared for and managed in an ethical way.
     Whatever your political, PETA, or vegan leanings, empathy toward other people created in the image of God is an issue of a whole other magnitude. Human beings are God's special creation in His image, with an immortal soul which will live forever somewhere. It is ironic that some of the people who are most exercised by the mistreatment of animals have no empathy for preborn human beings, 4,000 of which are being ripped apart or poisoned every business day in this country. Empathetically remembering those who are mistreated as if you yourselves are suffering is a virtue grown by the Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers. Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan teaches how we are to remember and act toward those who are mistreated, even if doing so is costly.
     Jesus knew the price of our redemption and acted so that we would not be eternally mistreated by the devil and his hordes. Christ took our punishment upon Himself so that we could be saved. Knowing the lengths He went toopen heaven's gate to us grows empathy in our hearts. Pray, live, and act out your gratitude for His salvation.