“Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5-6).
The importance and value of unity cannot be exaggerated. In Jesus’ longest recorded prayer, He declares the supreme importance of unity by connecting it to converting unbelievers into believers (John 17:20-21). In Ephesians 4, the inspired penman classifies “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” as an essential to walking worthy of Christ’s calling (vv. 1-3).
Here in Romans 15, Paul stresses the significance of unity and like-mindedness by connecting them to worshiping God acceptably. When there is unity in doctrine—when all speak the same thing and are perfectly joined together in the same mind and same judgment (1 Corinthians 1:10)—and there is liberty in matters of conscience—when the strong bear with the scruples of the weak and seek to please his brother and edify him (Romans 15:1-2)—the God of patience and comfort grants like-mindedness.
This wonderful blessing of like-mindedness can then be expressed to God in worship—Jew and Gentile, male and female, strong and weak—glorifying the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and one mouth. This is as close to “heaven on earth” as possible.
What rich and sweet blessings are rooted in unity and like-mindedness.
