HARMONY
May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.
Romans 15:5-7 (NLT)
I love the sound of a quartet singing four-part harmony. A necessary element of harmony is that different people sing different notes. If everyone were singing the same note, it wouldn’t be harmony but unison. Another key component of harmony is that all the singers follow the direction of the maestro, or the different notes might sound like noise.
The goal of living in harmony with each other implies that we don’t all have to look or act alike, nor do we have to agree on everything. Harmony means that we bring our uniqueness to a fellowship of believers, with a willingness to put others’ needs before our own and follow the direction of our Master.
Harmony happens when we bring who we are and what we have to Jesus in response to the love He’s already expressed. As we focus on Jesus together, He uses us to show His love to the world.
What’s my step toward being in harmony with others? Accept others in the way Christ has accepted you. How has Jesus accepted you? He accepted me just as I am, with grace for my faults and truth to transform me into the person I was created to be. How does it feel to know the perfect Son of God accepts you as you are?
If I can begin to comprehend God’s love for me and how He’s accepted me, I can begin to show a similar acceptance and love to others. When we begin to accept one another and live in harmony, then God will receive glory. He’ll receive the attention and thanks for His work in us and in the world.
APPLICATION: Confess to God at least one thing about yourself that’s made you feel unworthy of His love. Thank Him for His forgiveness and His love for you.
PRAYER: Father, please help me understand the ways Christ has accepted me. Give me the love and perspective to accept others the way you’ve accepted me. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?