Romans 15:5-6
May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The image of living in harmony with one another reminds me of the discipline and effort it takes for musicians to work together in a choir or orchestra. If we were to take this imagery a little further as followers of Jesus I wonder what it would mean to visualize Jesus as our conductor as human beings. Encouraging us to work together and so be drawn into making our lives the harmonious music of creation.
The best conductors do not seem to dominate the orchestra but to draw out the best gifts within the musicians by gentle and subtle encouragement, as well as correction when it is needed.
In this wonderful TED talk by Itay Talgam what lessons might we learn from how conductors lead to how Jesus leads us and for those of us in leadership, what lessons might we learn about building others up to work together as God’s people.
http://www.ted.com/talks/itay_talgam_lead_like_the_great_conductors.html