Romans 15:5, 6 
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that, with one mind and one voice, you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV)

May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we’ll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus! (The Message)

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My bride and I attended a musical years ago where the final note of the final song, performed by a masterful group of musicians, included one woman who wanted everyone to know she was the one hitting the highest of high notes. She held the final note a bit longer than everyone else. It didn’t ruin the song, but it made her stand out for all the wrong reasons. 

The only way for a group to have one mind and one voice is for each person to focus their attention on the same thing. This is a challenge in an era when people prize individuality above all else. The hardest instrument in the orchestra to play, you’ve heard, is second fiddle. The hardest song to sing these days is the one praising someone else. 

Unity, harmony, and love do not come easily. Neither do they come with forced effort. They arrive in wonder, worship, and awe. This requires placing our focused attention someplace beyond ourselves. 

Paul prays that as God gives endurance and encouragement, he will likewise give us the same attitude of mind toward each other that Jesus has toward us. Jesus loves everybody, and so should we. Jesus seeks his highest and best for everyone, and not just us. 

I do not get invited to join many choirs. In my younger days, when teachers and worship leaders needed bodies more than voices, they often included me. I was kept as far away from microphones as possible. The directors stood me next to performers with powerful voices and urged me to sing softly. My wife is now realizing why I turn up the music so loud in the car. I can’t believe it’s taken her all this time to understand this. 

It’s maturity that teaches us all to sing the same song. Maturity lifts our voices toward our risen Savior. Maturity makes us want to be part of this choir. Maturity turns our combined efforts into a stunning anthem of perfect harmony in praise of our God and Father. 

Back in our running days, I could always run farther with my bride by my side. I remember the first day we ran ten miles. That was liberating. It was delightful. It was wonderful. The cool autumn air did something for our lungs and legs that the warmer temperatures of the earlier season simply could not. It’s true: if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. 

It’s time to get along. It’s time for heavenly harmony. It’s time to go the distance together. 

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I will lean into unity, harmony, and love with those who seek to live in ways that glorify God and declare his praise now and forever.

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Our Father, teach us how to get along for all the right reasons. Empower us to live lives that help people see how good you are. Give us one voice, exalting you now and forever. Amen.