Romans 15:5-7 -- On Becoming Likeminded

"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."
Romans 15:5-7


I love that God is a God of peace and consolation, and I like the idea here of becoming likeminded with his help. ... I don't think that being likeminded means some sort of Orwellian groupthink or becoming a hive mind, but rather the familiar idea of being on the same page, and working from similar definitions. God asks us to unite in purpose and love, not to give up our individual personalities.

God listens to us individually, of course, and we can see miracles in our lives through prayer. There is perhaps a special efficacy in group prayer, as God indicates that agreement on what to ask helps, and saying "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:19-20).

Today, let's consider more than what is good for us individually as we pray, and let's pray together when and where we can for things that benifit all of us as groups, communities, organizations, and the world. Let's work on being united, and likeminded, caring about the good of others along with our own good.