“Sept 13, 2024 - With One Voice”

Thursday, September 12, 2024

With One Voice

Reading:  Romans 15:8-21
    
    Paul wants the Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome to welcome one another because God’s plan has always been to include the Gentiles as a part of his people.  “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”(Rom 15:5-6).  When we are in harmony as a local church, our praise to God goes up “with one voice” despite our physical differences.  While we struggle with diversity, God’s plan is that through Jesus he can build harmony from the differences, to his glory.  Paul then  summarizes this latter section of Romans:  “For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy”(Rom 15:8-9).  Jesus fulfills the promises God gave to Abraham and the patriarchs—but also expands them by including the Gentiles.  A series of OT passages confirms this (Rom 15:9, 10, 11, 12).  God has been signaling his desire to include Gentiles for a long time.

    Paul’s confidence in God’s purpose makes him unashamed to preach in distant lands where even Judaism has not reached.  “In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.  For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience”(Rom 15:17-18).  He sees himself on the front lines of God’s plan to bring the Gentiles to faith.  If God wants this so badly, then Paul is happy to work hard and suffer in pursuit of God’s will, wherever it takes him (Rom 15:19-21).

    God wants his people to “with one voice glorify” him, united despite differences.  As hard as it may be to accept people who are not like us—in ethnicity, manners, background, or lifestyle—the cross makes it so that we all stand equal before God.  His purpose is that we show love and acceptance to one another.  This is most often worked out in the local church.  Whatever personal sacrifices we make to preserve unity and peace in a local church, we can be confident that we are fulfilling the dream of God.

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One Thing to Think About: Do I appreciate the unity of my local congregation—and how it glorifies God?

One Thing to Pray For:   God’s glory to expand through the lives of his people
 

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