Agreement

Well here's a verse to mull over today.

1 Corinthians 1:10 "Brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, I urge all of you to be in agreement and not to have divisions among you, so that you may be perfectly united in your understanding and opinions."

"Mind and thought"
"Thought and purpose"
"Mind and judgement"

These were the ways other versions phrased the last part of this verse. Either way, in the name of Jesus we are all urged to be of one mind and opinion and to be in agreement with one another. WOW!

I'm looking at how things are in society today and thinking, "How can this be?" I mean, seriously, does ANYONE yield to his neighbor these days? It seems more likely that most would diss their friends, brothers and neighbors rather than "agree" with them or "be of one mind and opinion". It's just the calloused way the world is.

"You don't judge me and I won't judge you", right? "Live and let live", that's the closest we get to living in agreement. We agree to disagree. But what of this verse, where it says, we are to "be perfectly united in our understanding and opinions"?

I think the key is in the Name by which we are urged.  It's all about JESUS.  Some things in life are made delightfully simple just by dwelling on His name and will.  When He is exalted and we are bowed low, no longer do selfish ambitions rule our thoughts and actions.  Our pride no longer plays a role in our interactions with each other.  Our pride no longer acts as a filter through which we hear each other. Instead, Jesus becomes the focus and purpose of every heart and response.  May God forgive us for ever behaving any other way.