The Glue

December 15

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans 15:5-7, gives a rather protracted discourse on how believers may bring glory to God. He says, “Patience and encouragement come from God and I pray that God will help you all agree with each other the way Jesus Christ wants.

“Then you will all be joined together and you will give glory to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ accepted you, so you should accept each other, which will bring glory to God.” The bottom line of this statement is that in finding a point of agreement, we bind ourselves together. When we are in unity, the Lord is lifted up.

At times, we must patiently search for that agreement. We know if one thing
negatively distinguishes Christianity it is our myriad points of doctrinal differences that separate one denomination from another. To recount them here is to further entrench them. Rather, we must patiently encourage one another, even if we don’t see eye-to-eye in all small points of interpreting the gospel message.

But there is one thing in which we cannot deviate if we are to call ourselves true believers in Christ. There is one thing our Lord said would distinguish all His followers and it has nothing to do with doctrine. In John 13:35 Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that you are My disciples—that you have love one for another.” Small points of doctrine may separate, but His love will be the glue that holds us together forever.