You should be part of a local church or congregation. How you relate to your fellow Christian in this local church is important to God. Your relationships should have a foundation of love. Jesus said in John 13:35 “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” You should also have the same mind toward one other. Romans 12:16 “Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.” The Syriac version renders this passage: “And what you think concerning yourselves, the same also think concerning your brethren; neither think with an elevated or ambitious mind, but accommodate yourselves to those who are of humbler condition.” Within your local congregation there may be a wide variety of individuals. There may be those who are rich and those who are poor; those who are knowledgeable and those who have little knowledge; those of high social standing and those of low social standing; those who are old and those who are young. Whatever the differences, you are all one in Christ Jesus. You must treat each other with respect and consideration and seek to be one. You have a common goal, a common purpose, a common Lord, a common salvation, and a common enemy.
This principle of being of one mind is important. The Apostle Paul addressed it to multiple churches. To the church at Rome – Romans 15:5-7 “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. Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.” To the church at Philippi – Philippians 2:1-4 “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” To the church at Corinth – 1 Corinthians 1:10 “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” To the church at Ephesus – Ephesians 4:1-3 “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Again to the church at Philippi – Philippians 1:27 ”Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” The Apostle Peter taught the same principle. 1 Peter 3:8-9 “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.”
Your church assemblies are important opportunities for you to work for this one mind that you are to have. Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
You have an important responsibility to do all within your power to be of one mind with those within your congregation.