“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:5–6 ESV).
The apostle Paul closed this section of his letter with a prayerful appeal that God would grant the believers in Rome a spirit of unity. He referred to God as “the God of endurance and encouragement,” echoing his earlier statement that the Scriptures produce these very traits (v.4). Paul understood that harmony among believers, especially between Jewish and Gentile Christians, could not be achieved by human effort alone. It would require God’s gracious work in their hearts. Moreover, this unity must be “in accord with Christ Jesus,” not based on mere tolerance or uniformity, but on a Christlike attitude of humility and sacrificial love. The goal of such unity was not merely community, but doxology—that believers would “with one voice glorify” God the Father through their unity in Christ.
We live in a world filled with division, and sadly, that spirit can infiltrate the church if we are not watchful. Yet God calls us to live differently, reflecting His character of endurance and encouragement. The harmony we are called to is not passive or superficial, but a Christ-centered unity that requires grace and intentionality. When we live this way, we bear witness to the transforming power of the gospel. Our voices become one, lifted together in praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us seek this kind of unity by asking God to shape our hearts to be more like Christ.
PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, You are the God of endurance and encouragement. Empower us to live in true harmony with one another, following the example of Christ. Forgive us for the ways we allow pride or personal preference to divide us. Teach us to bear with one another in love, so that with one voice we may glorify You. In Jesus’ name, amen.