harmony

May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Romans 15:5 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.15.5.NLT

As someone who knows music, harmony is important. Dischordance is woeful, yet some streams of music are definitively dischordant and challenge the senses.

Harmony is important to God. Harmony exists in the Godhead, in the heavenly realm but not in the area that surrounds mankind. We are opiniated, puffed up and arrogant, thinking ourselves better than others. This is out of synch with all of the kingdom of God.

The apostle Paul understood the need for harmony as the book of Acts shows him falling out with Barnabas (the son of encouragement). Barnabas wanted to take John Mark on a misssion with them both, but Paul violently opposed the decision. The fight caused them to go their separate ways. Later, we know Paul had repented of his attitude as he asks for John Mark to come. Imagine falling our with an encourager. Barnabas believd all things, hoped all things, endured all things. These are qualities of a lover of God and man. I wonder if Paul had Barnabas in mind when he wrote 1 Cor 13? Barnabas portrayed these godlike qualities.

Don't fall out with an encourager over semantics. It is not worth it to lose the presence of an encourager. Amen!

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