Romans 15:5-6

Scripture Verse

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, ⁶ so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 One Mind and One Voice in Christ

In Romans 15, Paul is addressing a community that doesn’t always see eye-to-eye. The fellowship is arguing over what to eat and which days are holy. It sounds like a typical church, doesn’t it? Yet Paul doesn’t simply command them to just “tolerate” each other, he prays for them to be of one mind and one voice.

By formulating this prayer Paul reminds us that the “same attitude of mind” is something that comes from “the God who gives.” It isn’t something we work up on our own. He intercedes for the community, asking God to provide the endurance and encouragement necessary to bridge our differences. Why do we need endurance? Because loving people who are different from us is hard work.

When we adopt this attitude, we move from being a collection of separate individuals to being “one mind and one voice.” Why is this so important you may ask? Think of Jesus’ parable of the ten bridesmaids (Matthew 25). The bridesmaids were waiting for the bridegroom, but they weren’t just individuals in a vacuum. They were having a wedding party.

Their purpose was to collectively welcome the groom and light the way to the feast. When we are divided by judgment or contempt (as Paul warns in chapter 14), we get distracted from our purpose and may find ourselves unprepared for the Groom’s arrival.

Then Paul points us back to verse three: “For even Christ did not please himself.” If Jesus chose sacrifice over self-interest, then having the ‘mind of Christ’ means asking, ‘How can I build you up?’ instead of ‘How can I get my way?’ It is a beautiful shift from seeking our own satisfaction to seeking the sanctification of our neighbor. Let us therefore ask for the endurance to love and the encouragement to sing with one voice for the glory of God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for the grace You have shown us in Christ. Give us the endurance to bear with one another and the encouragement to seek unity in Christ. Help us to lay down our need to be right so that we may lift one voice to glorify You. Amen.