Staying in Step 步调一致

[Dexu Xia]

Accept one another . . . to bring praise to God. Romans 15:7

Today's Scripture Romans 15:1-7

Today's Insights  In Romans 15, Paul says the foundation for the unity of believers in Jesus is to have “the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had” (vv. 5-6). Unity is found in following Christ’s example of self-giving love, not in having identical beliefs, backgrounds, or preferences. The goal of this unity is worship “so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 6). In fact, unity itself is a form of worship: “Accept one another . . . in order to bring praise to God” (v. 7).  Romans is especially focused on Jewish and gentile unity. Paul quotes Israel’s Scriptures to emphasize that Jews and gentiles worshiping and glorifying God together fulfills God’s promises (vv. 8-12). In the apostle’s vision, Jewish and gentile believers finding unity in worship is evidence that the united worship of believers offers a picture of creation’s full restoration, when all will join in praising their Creator (see 8:18-23; Isaiah 45:23).

Today's Devotion  Lillian Colón, who grew up in an orphanage, beat out four hundred dancers to win a coveted spot on a world-renowned dance team. She performed with that group, with its tightly ordered synchronized choreography, until her mid-forties. Now teaching dance at age seventy, she imparts to students her greatest lesson from precision artistry: Work together. “On and off the stage, our lives are deeply intertwined,” she said, “and we all fare better when we support and care for one another.”

The apostle Paul knew the importance of this principle. Harmony in Christ points praise to its true purpose—glorifying God. Paul taught this lesson to believers in Rome, both Jewish and gentile, to encourage their unity. “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,” he wrote (Romans 15:5). This was “so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 6).

Competing voices won’t produce this result. Joining together to praise God, with no one person or group discounting another, gives unity in Christ its true purpose. “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you,” wrote Paul, “in order to bring praise to God” (v. 7). When we seek God’s help to do this, He inspires our common voice as we step together and give Him glory.

Reflect & Pray

Whose voice can you join in praise to God? How can you prioritize unified praise?

Please open my heart, dear God, to unified praise with others.

By Patricia Raybon

“你们要彼此接纳，如同基督接纳你们，使荣耀归给上帝。”(罗马书15章7节)

今日经文：罗马书15章1-7节

今日洞见：在罗马书15章中，保罗指出，“效法基督耶稣，彼此同心”是耶稣信徒合一的基础（5-6节）。真正的合一，并非源于拥有相同的信仰、背景或喜好，而是同心效法基督那舍己之爱的榜样。这种合一的终极目标乃是敬拜，“一心一口荣耀我们主耶稣基督的神与父”（6节）。事实上，合一本身就是一种敬拜的形式：“你们要彼此接纳，如同基督接纳你们一样，使荣耀归给神”（7节）。罗马书特别强调犹太信徒与外邦信徒之间的合一。保罗引用了以色列人列祖的经卷，以此强调：犹太人与外邦人一同敬拜荣耀神，正是成就神应许的明证（8-12节）。在这位使徒的视野中，犹太人与外邦信徒在敬拜中达到合一，乃是一项有力的佐证，它预示着受造万物终将迎来完全的复兴，届时万物生灵都将齐声颂赞它们的造物主（参罗马书8：18-23；以赛亚书45：23）。

  今日灵修：莉莲·科隆自幼在孤儿院长大，她凭借出色的舞技，从四百名竞争者中脱颖而出，成功跻身一支享誉全球的知名舞蹈团，赢得了那个令人梦寐以求的席位。她随该舞团一同演出，以其严谨有序、步调一致的编舞享誉舞台，直至四十多岁，才告别舞台生涯。如今，莉莲虽已年届七旬，她依然坚守在​​舞蹈教学的第一线；在传授技艺的同时，她也向学生们传授了她从那极致精准的艺术实践中所领悟到的最宝贵的功课：务要彼此协作。“无论是在舞台之上，还是在舞台之下，我们的生命都紧密地交织在一起，”她说道，“唯有当我们彼此扶持、互相关怀时，我们每个人才能活出更精彩的人生。” 使徒保罗深知在基督里合一这一原则的重要性，唯有合一，赞美才能引向其真正的归宿，即荣耀神。保罗将这一功课教导给罗马教会的信徒们，包括犹太人和外邦人，目的是勉励他们持守合一。他在信中写道：赐忍耐与安慰的神，叫你们效法基督耶稣，彼此同心”（罗马书15章5节）。这正是为了“使你们同心同口，荣耀我们主耶稣基督的神与父”（6节）。相互争竞的声音绝无法成就这一结果。唯有众人齐心合力赞美神，且没有任何个人或群体轻视他人，才能赋予“在基督里合一”真正的意义。保罗写道：“所以，你们要彼此接纳，如同基督接纳你们一样，使荣耀归与神”（7节）。当我们寻求神的帮助去践行这一点时，祂便会激发我们共同的心声，使我们步调一致，将荣耀归给祂。

反思与祷告 你能与谁一同发出赞美神的声音？你当如何将“合一的赞美”置于优先地位？ 亲爱的神啊，求祢开启我的心，使我能与他人一同发出合一的赞美。作者：帕特里夏·雷本