Bible Reading: Romans 15
Romans 15:5-6 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul calls God the God of patience. Aren’t you glad that God is patient with you? Have you ever thought back to times when God waited a long time for you to come to an understanding from him and repent? Then do the same for others! God is the God of consolation. That means he is comforting. He is a God of exhortation and encouragement. If we are indwelt by the God of patience and consolation, then we should show patience and consolation toward others – especially the church!
Paul’s prayer is that they be like minded toward one another according to Jesus Christ. The church is no social club. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. We are fellow soldiers in the army of Christ. We have a mission and a common enemy who we are to resist steadfast in the faith. We must be likeminded in our attitude as believers. We do this when we allow our thinking to be aligned with that of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Believers have the mind of Christ so when we are led by his Spirit, we will be likeminded. When the church is likeminded, we will have one mind and with one mouth we will glorify God. How important is it that a church be likeminded? It is absolutely essential. Imagine an army that was not coordinated. Imagine a family that was all going in different directions. (Well, unfortunately sin has given us some good examples of both of these.) The importance of like-mindedness is the difference between fulfilling the mission of Jesus and failing. Thank God, that failure is not an option.
What must you do to be likeminded with your brothers and sisters in Christ? First, love God and listen to him. Second, look to the example of Christ. Third, love your brothers and sisters and die to yourself.
Romans 15:2-3 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
In Christ,
Rody
