Romans 15:1-6.
1)
We then that are strong ought to bear the
infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2)
Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
3)
For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as
it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached
thee fell on me.
4)
For whatsoever things were written aforetime
were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the
scriptures might have hope.
5)
Now the God of patience and consolation grant
you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
6)
That ye may with one mind and one mouth
glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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the people of God are to survive in these Last Days, unity is paramount. Never
before has it been so important for us to have the same mind and speak the same
thing in the Lord. It is through seeing us unified that others are born into
the body of Christ. Once born, if we are to accomplish His purpose, we must be
on one accord.
So,
who does disunity benefit? Satan and Satan alone. This
is what he desires and his method of accomplishing it is to keep our attention
focused upon ourselves.
We
can learn many spiritual lessons from the animal kingdom. One, particularly
applicable to Satan and his tactics, is seen in the way the great
cats (e.g. lions and tigers) hunt their prey. They will always seek out the
weakest animal in order to separate him from the herd, get him alone and
conquer him. Once he eliminates the first, it is that much easier to pick off
others one-by-one.
The
sooner we voluntarily make ourselves part of the whole, the better. Though many
feel it advantageous to keep to themselves in order to
get more personal attention, God never has, and never will, allow His glory to
go to another. So, you see, in attempting to make our own name, we have taken
on an impossible task.
We
are divided and conquered by Satan deceiving us into believing that no one is
concerned about us. First of all, this is an inappropriate focus of our
attention, for we should be focused upon ministering to others, not being
ministered to. Secondly, too much that confronts us is taken as a personal
affront. This is, as opposed to identifying things as tests allowed by God, we label them opposition coming from Satan. This points to our misconception and misunderstanding of
testing and our purpose in God.
After
all, how will we ever come to know Who God is, and what He can be to us, unless
we are put to the test that He might be tested in us? Testing is the only
positive way to know God and what He will do. I ask you, is there any room in
today’s world not to be positive and unwavering about God?
Never
forget that the devil will go to any length to steal our joy. He doesn’t care
how he gets it or what he must do to get it. His only point is to show that he
can. He doesn’t believe that we are really saved or can be. He wants to prove
that we are changeable as the weather—and all too often, we respond as if it
were true.
Would
that we all could learn to be on one accord at all times about what we believe
to be true of God. What would happen? We would manifest the confidence we have
through united praise and once we were all praising, our fleshly minds would be
subdued. This is why praise is necessary to our survival. Besides, we are saved
to be happy—not miserable, not worried, not disagreeable and disgruntled. It
should be abundantly clear to those of us who are saved that salvation is Man’s
only chance for happiness.
If
we ever intend to make a commitment to God, it seems as if our only time may be
now. Only one who is “sold out” will be able to be used—and blessed.
Oh
yes, in case you hadn’t heard, nobody wants to be part of your trouble and
nobody wants to hear you complain. We can all do enough of that on our own.
It’s time to get down to the business of “glorifying God together”—and watch
what happens.