With one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. – Romans 15:6

Sporting events bring together large crowds cheering for their favorite team – sometimes with shouts of encouragement and sometimes with voices of discontent or dissatisfaction. Demonstrators often have strident voices, and sometimes their verbiage may have damaging results. A musical concert may feature a group that sings in multiple harmonies seemingly with one voice. While a gathering of people may agree with one another, encouragement or harmony is more uplifting than dissent or protest.

God is honored by those who seek the transforming power that comes from accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives. There is a unity with other believers that comes through Christ being the center of your life. Like-mindedness is a gift from the Lord and develops as believers internalize and confess His truths.

In his commentary on Romans 15, John MacArthur lists six spiritual characteristics from the first six verses that should lead the Christian believer to please the Lord and become more unified with others in thought and deed. They consist of: 1) having regard for others, bearing up those who are weak, 2) promoting the good of others, thinking less of self, 3) being willing to please God even in trials, 4) submitting to the words of Scripture, encouraged to persevere because of the hope that is in Christ, 5) depending on His divine power, and, lastly, 6) giving glory to God – the ultimate purpose of Christian unity.

Let Christ’s selflessness and His unending love for the Father and for the lost be your example today. Be bold yet humble as you serve Him by serving others. Then pray that like-minded people in this nation will rise up and glorify God with one voice.