Romans 14:19 (NLT)
So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.
This verse in Romans is short but carries much weight. These deliberate acts of encouragement and maintaining harmony are absolutely pivotal to us fulfilling our purpose here at Refuge Church, which is to make disciples.
Think about a time when you’ve needed encouragement. Those moments when you feel like the entire world is either falling down around you or resting on your shoulders. In an ideal world, it would be at these moments that we should be able to call on one another as not only friends, but as brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. Alas, it doesn’t always work this way.
I don’t believe it is any coincidence that Paul mentions aiming for harmony and encouraging each other in the same sentence. It would be hard to have one without the other. Think about a harmonious relationship between a husband and a wife. You can bet that there is plenty of encouragement coming from both sides. He supports her in any way he can. She supports him in any way she can. There is harmony because both sides feel loved and respected. Now think about a not-so-harmonious relationship between a husband and a wife. He likes to make her feel stupid. She likes to make him feel stupid. They carry with them a constant tension. There is disharmony because neither side feels loved or respected. The same thing that will keep this couple from having a harmonious relationship is the same thing that will keep us from having harmony at Refuge Church:
Selfishness. That quiet (usually…) inner-voice that reminds us that we should have it our way and everyone else should just have to deal with it. We leave the womb with this mindset guiding us.
To sum all of this up, let us not forget that in order to build each other up, we must elevate the feelings of others above the feelings of ourselves. Since this is not a natural tendency of ours, we need help. We can find our help in the form of Jesus Christ, who has given us power over sin through his death on the cross.
In conclusion, I’ll leave you with a phrase that John (the Pastor, not the Baptist) shared a few weeks ago:
If you’re not a part of the solution, you’re a part of the problem.
Pray that God will help you be a constant encouragement to everyone you encounter today. Also pray that God will use you to build harmony, not only at home, but as a part of the body of Refuge Church as well.
