Twin Peaks

The scripture for today is Romans 15:5-6

Romans 15:5-6 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That you may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The descriptions of God in the Bible give us a glimpse of His qualities. These are the same qualities that He desires us to emulate. In our text today, He is the God of patience and consolation. In verse 13 of the chapter, He is the God of hope. In Hebrews 13:20, He is the God of peace. In 2 Corinthians 1:3, He is the God of all comfort. And what wonderful grace we receive from "the God of all grace." 1 Peter 5:10 The qualities of God are expressed through the Lord Jesus Christ and a life that is immersed in Christ will reflect these qualities of God. This is a growth process, but nonetheless the qualities of God are resident in the hearts of those who have received His Son and are filled with His Spirit. The process of growth takes us through the stages of spiritual development where we, by faith, learn to hear the voice of God through His Word and Spirit and allow His Word and Spirit to direct our lives. A life that is lived this way is a life that reveals the qualities of God within.

God gave us Himself in Christ so that we could give Him ourselves through Christ. He became like us so that we could become like Him. The transfer that takes place at the cross is the exchange of the old life for new life. We give up a life lived in the flesh so that we can receive a life that is lived by the Spirit of God. Those possessing such a life are oddities to the world but they are living, breathing displays of God's righteousness to His created universe. It is through such a people that God is glorified. He actually expects us to behave like Him; He really does. He expects that, since we are His offspring, we would display the very characteristics of the one who begot us. We have been born again, "not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever." 1 Peter 1:23  As His family on the earth, we are admonished to have the same patience and consolation toward one another as God has toward each one of us. The unity of the Spirit directs the unity of the body and in God's family we have one mind (the mind of Christ) and one voice (the voice of the Spirit) with which we glorify God.  Let the minds and voices of all of God's children, in harmony, give glory to His name.

God bless you as you continue in His service.

Tim