October 21, 2016 – Romans 15:5-6

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 15:5-6Like-minded?  Can we agree on anything down here on earth?  Not likely…why?  Because we do not have patience to hear what someone is saying, or listen with love in our hearts.As a teen, a long time ago, I didn’t like the way Mom wanted me to wash dishes.  I told her in terse language, I would wash them differently when I was out of the house. One day years later, washing dishes in my own home, I realized, I washed dishes as Mom taught me.When the matter is much more important than washing dishes, we learn to follow God….with patience toward others and listen through His heart and mind.  Jesus died for us while we were yet sinners.For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the God was penalty for our sins.  For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past.  Romans 3:23-25As I listen to others, I pray that just as Jesus sees my heart, I, too, can listen to the heart of others.  Help me, Lord, to accept others with a loving acceptance, just as Christ accepted me.  And not with condemnation. It is all to the glory of God.Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. Romans 15:7