Romans 15:4-7 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”
Many of us have a desire for knowledge. Over the almost seven decades of my life, I have come to know many things. For instance, the smallest mammal by size is the bumblebee bat. While this might be an interesting bit of knowledge, it has no practical value to me.
There is a difference between knowledge and learning. The scriptures that were written and preserved from the past were written by the inspiration of God (2Tim 3:16) for our learning. The word translated as learning means “instruction.” So, the scripture was not given purely for the sake of knowledge, but that we might have knowledge we can use.
God inspired the scriptures for our learning to the end that we might have hope. The word hope is not defined as a wishful thought, although we often use it that way. Strong’s defines the word translated as hope to mean “expectation or confidence.” By way of the cheerful constancy (hope) and solace (comfort) of the holy word of God, we come to have confidence in all that God has said and done.
We are often counseled by others to develop patience. We seek to console one another in difficult times. In order to be patient or to give consolation, we need to recognize where the foundation of these attributes lie. Patience and consolation are of God. The use of patience and consolation is granted (bestowed) by Him.
Peace and unity (to be likeminded) are things greatly to be desired, and the whole world claims to be seeking these attributes. According to the scripture, it takes patience and consolation to arrive at a state of like-mindedness. Since patience and consolation are of God, the grace to be like-minded one toward another also comes from God. We are like-minded when we are blessed to have the mind of Christ (Php 2:5).
When we are blessed with the hope (confidence) that is taught in the scripture, we come to the place of having one mind. This does not mean that we are all going to suddenly like liver. Our single-mindedness is going to be our desire to live together to God’s glory. We are going to seek the good of our brethren and pursue the things that make for peace.
It is a glorious thing when we, as brothers and sisters in Christ, have one mind and one mouth. We live our lives with the unanimous purpose of giving God glory in action and word. We speak those things which, in giving God glory, edify one another. Our focus as the church is centered on God (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost).
We are to receive one another (whether we are strong or weaker in faith). The word translated as receive literally means “to take to oneself.” Again, Christ is our example, since He has received (taken us) to Himself. Christ received us to the glory of God, and we are to receive one another to the glory of God.
May the instruction (learning) left us in the scripture give us the confidence (hope) to live to the praise of His glory who first trusted in Christ (Eph 1:12)!