Romans 15.5-7 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one towards another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
God’s will is that His children be likeminded towards one another. I take that to mean what we read elsewhere, Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to receive one another in Christ, the same way that Christ has received us. As Jesus humbled Himself and became a servant. We too are to humble ourselves in the sight of God and serve one another.
Beloved, can I be honest with you? You would think Scripture said “reject and criticize one another for The glory of God.” God has one word for all of us followers of Jesus with bad attitudes towards fellow believers. Repent! Our bad attitudes grieve God’s Spirit. Our refusal to serve one another is flat out disobedience that quenches the love of God. It is only when we obediently submit to The Lordship and love of Jesus Christ that we will with one mind and one mouth glorify God. Look to the cross. Peek into that empty tomb. See Him ascending into heaven. Embrace His promise to return. Christ crucified. Christ risen. Christ ascended into heaven. Christ coming again! I said all of that without mentioning one denomination or creed, because Jesus is bigger than any denomination or creed. We magnify Jesus, not denominations. We magnify Jesus, not creeds. Consult Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4&5 for a refresher course on Who and what we are to magnify if need be.
May our prayers for one another go further than the walls of our churches and preferences or personal expressions of “credal” faith and worship styles. Receive one another as Christ has received you to the glory of God. Stop the spiritual trash talking saints. Oh magnify The Lord with me, and let us glorify His Name forever!
Hey great message Pastor Ray!