“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.” Romans 12:16
April 20, 2023
Harmony in music is a gift from God. Quartets, choirs, duets, and such seem to have faded in church music. There is another kind of harmony which is essential to effectiveness as the church seeks to be gospel rich in its witness. The church in Rome desperately needed harmony in pulling various factions (converted Jews and Gentiles) together for Christ’s sake. Christians are to coordinate their thoughts, disposition, and actions around biblical truths. This is not the same as all becoming of the same opinion. Opinions can be loaded with personal preferences rather than biblical reasoning. Common cause in living and working together is explained as “Doing nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interest of others” (Phil. 2:3,4). These are the chords that create harmony in our relationships.
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“I do verily believe that when God shall accomplish it (unity), it will be the effect of love, and not the cause of love. It will proceed from love, before it brings forth love.” John Owen