Dear God, thank You for being the source of everything that keeps me going and for giving me patience and comfort that only comes from You. Your Word in Romans 15:5-6 says, “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” God, help me press toward the mind of Christ today, especially when one small thing threatens to knock me into a bad place mentally. When there’s tension in my relationships, at home, or anywhere else, give me the grace to choose peace first instead of my own opinion. Living in peace was never something I could pull off on my own. Thank You for holding me together and giving me the strength to keep going today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Live in harmony with one another.
Romans 12 is a powerful chapter with some short, compelling verses like Romans 12:12:
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
This verse is similar to 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 which says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
These three commands keep us on track with the Lord.
1. Joyful in hope.
1 Thessalonians tells us to rejoice always, and Romans 12 tells us why: because we have hope. We know that The Best is Yet to Come.
2. Patient in affliction.
1 Thessalonians tells us to give thanks in all circumstances, and Romans 12 specifies patience in affliction. God knows our lives will be challenging, but we are thankful that He’s in charge.
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus, John 16:33
3. Faithful in prayer.
1 Thessalonians tells us to pray continually, and Romans 12 tells us to be faithful in prayer.
We should live in an attitude of prayer, remembering God throughout our day. This helps us keep the good and bad things in proper perspective.
Christian joy:
For more on Christian joy, see We Need It: Joy. You might also want to check out the Bible Love Notes collection called Joy and Laughter.
Are you surprised at the repetition in Romans 12:12 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18?
God uses repetition to teach us important truths. See God’s Purpose for Repetition.
God also uses repetition to expand concepts and add different details. That’s one reason we need to study all that Scripture teaches about a subject, not just a verse or two.
Core Teaching Points
- Live in Harmony (Shared Mindset):
- Encourages a spirit of unity, peace, and mutual adjustment among believers rather than forced uniformity or rigid division.
- Compares Christian community to musical parts—different instruments playing together to create a unified sound.
- Reject Pride and Haughtiness:
- Warns against an arrogant attitude that looks down on others or seeks preferential treatment and social power within the church.
- Pride is identified as a primary barrier to empathy and genuine Christian fellowship.
- Associate with the Lowly:
- Commands believers to willingly cross social, economic, or status lines to embrace and serve ordinary or marginalized people.
- Models the example of Jesus, who looked past earthly status and titles to see the eternal value of every person.
- Avoid Self-Conceit (Do Not Be Wise in Your Own Estimation):
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