Love in Christ Is Relational Glue Preventing Division in the Church

We cannot lift a large sofa by ourselves. Some items are too big to lift without help. How often do we fail because we do not ask for God’s help? Or the help of a fellow believer?

In Romans 16, Jesus Christ glues many diverse members into one body. He molds them into a unified whole.

Paul knew all thirty-five believers mentioned in the chapter. He made friends while he won souls. He appreciated his friends in the Lord. He was not embarrassed to say so.

Others in our church should not be strangers to us. They certainly should not be rivals. It matters.

Most people who visit a church are looking for warmth more than light. If they experience warmth, they are far more likely to stay until dawn breaks.

God uses people who make friends. We make friends by being friends. We do not have to get people to like us.

We love people by becoming interested in them. We ask them lots of questions. We listen while they talk about what matters to them.

Usually, we cannot affect people who live far from us with whom we have no relationship. Influence requires relational closeness. Love in Christ is the epoxy glue that holds a church together.

We are part of God’s family. We ought to love one another. Our job description includes regularly encouraging other believers to love and perform virtuous deeds (Hebrews 10:24).

Add to that, winning unbelieving friends to ourselves so we can later win them to Christ and His church. Doing both maximizes our impact.

Romans 16 is not a boring description of strangers. We find there a blueprint to help us relate to our fellow believers.

I challenge you to write a note of commendation to one or more believers who have impacted your life. Tell them specifically what you appreciate about them. Such encouragement accomplishes more than you can imagine.

Those who have helped you will fit one or more of the following four descriptions. Who works hard in the Lord? Phoebe was such a person (Romans 16:1-2). She blessed many people.

Priscilla and Aquila helped Paul’s ministry in Corinth and Ephesus. As the chapter progressed, Paul commended many others who labored to exhaustion in the Lord.

Who has instructed you in the basics of the faith? In a world bristling with false teachers who serve their appetites, those who ground us in God’s truth are precious and worthy of commendation.

Who promotes peace among believers? Every church has Satan’s instruments of discord and God’s instruments of peace. Avoid the former. Commend the latter.

Who isn’t ashamed to talk about Jesus Christ? Such people help us move from darkness to light. From immature to mature believers. What believers will you commend? What is your takeaway?

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God has empowered me to write His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength. It’s a free, evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship e-book. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead 6,090 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 15,150 people. I invite you to explore and use it in your setting. 

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