Change that attitude!

At 2 am, I awakened and thought about a meeting that is scheduled for today, one that involves conflict. As I thought about the possibilities of the conversation, I wondered if I should cancel it, “Why even attempt to settle this thing?” I wondered. A simmering resentment brought me to full consciousness. Then the Spirit challenged my thoughts to change with the power of the inspired Word.  I felt like  a teenager whose father says, “Hey, check that attitude, OK?”  Just about every parent experiences the ‘tude- the rolled eyes, the dismissive toss of the head, the remark made that is just barely audible.

My Father used Paul’s words to reprimand me and to correct, pointing me in a better direction. "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11, NIV)

Pride, that feeling that we must be right, that we must be noticed, that we must be respected, not only complicates relationships; it ultimately destroys them.  It creates an attitude that makes it all but impossible for us to be relational and approachable. Pride causes us to protect our advantage, to use people instead of loving them.  The Spirit sets the bar for us at the highest rung.  “Think of yourself like Christ Jesus thought of Himself!”

The King of Glory, the Agent of Creation, let all that He enjoyed in Heaven go and was born into this world.  Beyond that choice, which in itself is mind-boggling, He chose to become ‘nothing,’ a nobody, from nowhere, the child of peasant girl in a backwater village.  His humiliation did not end with a stable birth to parents of no reputation.  The eternal became limited to time, the immortal to a death of the worst kind – a crucifixion. Why?   It was not a calculated act, designed to gain advantage. It had nothing to do with what anyone thought about Him. He chose this because of love for insignificant human beings – you and me – to make it possible for us to know the love of our Father, to be restored to the place as God’s children that had been lost to sin and disobedience.

So, there in the darkness early this morning, the Spirit reminded me that the better choice in my meeting would be to ‘die to Self,’ to open my ears and my heart, to seek to understand that person who actions have been an irritation, to say the least.  The choice of obedience rests with me.  I heard Him. “Change that attitude!”

How about you? Are you wounded, disappointed, frustrated?
Is there something less than the mind of Christ operating in you?

Change that attitude, for Christ’s sake!

The passage includes that word, “therefore.”  Jesus’ choice of humble obedience created an opportunity for a God-thing to happen.  “God exalted Him!”  When we put ourselves in God’s hands, willingly dying to Self, trusting Him instead of resting on our prideful self-reliance, He can do the unimaginable for us, to us,  and through us because He is "able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." (Ephesians 3:20, NIV) I fully expect that as I trust God today, the person most changed by this meeting will be me!  That is often the greatest miracle, what God does in us when we yield our stubborn will to His, when we trust His way over our own agenda.

Here is a word from the Word, which I hope will keep me humbly trusting Him. May it inspire you to ‘change that attitude’ today, as well. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones." (Proverbs 3:5-8, NLT)

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O Come To The Altar

Are you hurting and broken within

Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin

Jesus is calling

Have you come to the end of yourself

Do you thirst for a drink from the well

Jesus is calling

O come to the altar

The Father's arms are open wide

Forgiveness was bought with

The precious blood of Jesus Christ

Leave behind your regrets and mistakes

Come today there's no reason to wait

Jesus is calling

Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy

From the ashes a new life is born

Jesus is calling

Oh what a Savior

Isn't he wonderful

Sing alleluia Christ is risen

Bow down before him

For he is Lord of all

Sing alleluia Christ is risen

Bear your cross as you wait for the crown

Tell the world of the treasure you've found

Chris Brown | Mack Brock | Steven Furtick | Wade Joye

© 2015 Music by Elevation Worship Publishing (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)

CCLI License # 810055

Throwing grenades?

Yoda said “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”  (Star Wars, thanks, George Lucas.)  There is a crazed intensity in our political landscape that seems to only grow. 15 years ago, as President Bush was preparing to go to war in Iraq, there were differences of opinion, but at least we could talk about them.  In 2018, Americans - families, friends, even churches - are split down the middle. So many of our conversations resemble those of boys on a school playground – boasts and threats, mostly irrational. We are shouting at each other, taking increasingly radical positions diametrically opposed to the other side.  Whatever the reason for the collapse of civility, I can say this with certainty – “For those who are in Christ this ought not to be the situation.”  If you’re hating the ‘other side’ you are sinning; no question about it.

Paul takes on the challenge of unity. Read the inspired Word intently. “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:1-4, NIV)

Think about what you have received from Jesus, we are reminded. Does Jesus shout at us, condemn us, call us stupid, hold us at a distance? He loves us tenderly, even when we are difficult, sinful, or selfish. His grace extends to us at our worst, the bold love of God offered ‘while we were still sinners,’ resisting Him, rejecting Him.  So, in the way He accepts us, we are to accept those with whom we live.  Can that be hard?  You’re nodding in the affirmative, aren’t you?  Even the most mild-mannered among us has someone in family or at work, a person that is just plain hard to love. Even if we wish them no ill, we would be relieved if they would just disappear.  You know it’s true, don’t you?

God asks us to choose humility.  Instead of being so certain, quick to say, “I’m right!”- we are told to consider that the other guy might have something to say to us. The Spirit says, "Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand." (Philippians 2:4, The Message)  That directive is not just about ‘nice people,’ or those who reciprocate with reasonable words.  Love is our individual choice, as we are secure in the love of Jesus!  He asks a simple question of us “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that?”  He reminds us that “Even sinners love those who love them! … Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate." (Luke 6:32-36, NLT)

This Monday morning, before you rush off to your day, bring to mind that person that really rubs you the wrong way. Think that person who makes your life hard. Now … pray for them, honestly!  Pray until you can get past the “Well, Lord, I guess You love them so I’ll try to be nice”  to a place where you can care about their interests, seek the best for them.  By the way, if you do not know what that it, God does, so agree with Him.

Unity needs to be more than a slogan. The word from the Word says “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family." (Matthew 5:9, The Message)  Let’s stop throwing grenades and start building some bridges.

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Whatever happens…

Yesterday I went home a bit early from the office to get the lawn mowed before going back for a meeting.  At 3:30 it was beautiful, sun shining brightly, a light breeze stirring.  I finished up a little before 5. A few minutes later the sky darkened and down came the rain. It poured for about 10 minutes. Life is like that, isn’t it?  Life is good, friends are great, we are feeling joy. Cruising along, we are so grateful for the sunny skies and then it happens. “It” can be so many different things – sickness, job loss, accident, a broken heart. The reality of our faith or the lack thereof becomes evident in those kinds of days.

Listen to Paul’s counsel, inspired by the Spirit. He has just reminded those reading his letter that he is uncertain about whether he will live or die, that life means continuing service to Christ Jesus; that death is his homegoing to the home of his Father.
 

 In times of that kind of change, he says that there is a priority choice to be made.  "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have." (Philippians 1:27-30, NIV)

When things go upside in life, there are a variety of responses other than living in faith, aren’t there?   

Sometimes we blow up, raging in our frustration.  We lash out at anything and everyone because of our anger. 

Sometimes we shrink into a defensive posture, withdrawing from life and retreating into a sullen silence. 

Sometimes we become Chicken Little, so overwhelmed with fear that we run around declaring that the world is coming to an end! 

Sometimes we go off the rails trying to distract ourselves; chasing pleasure, spending too much, overeating.  

 God asks for a different response. “Live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ.” (The Message)

When we focus on faith, pull together in “one spirit,” refusing to let fear rule us a kind of beauty emerges in us, the Light of Jesus shining through us.  Even as I write these words, I shudder to remember some of those moments when I have not made the choice of faith and turned into an angry man.  But, I also remember moments when I chose faith, when there was a beauty in my brokenness that honored the Lord I love.  How about you?

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our heritage as a Christian included only sunny days without trouble? But, that is not life in this world. A final observation from Paul’s letter this morning is the last part of the passage quoted above. Note it again- “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”   Those difficulties are not a surprise to our Father in Heaven. He knows the paths we walk and prepares gracious gifts of patience and encouragement for those moments of suffering and struggle.

Let’s pray for the depth of faith to stay steady, to keep serving Christ as He desires whatever happens!

Here is a word from the Word.
"Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

But not the wicked!
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.

They will be condemned at the time of judgment.

Sinners will have no place among the godly.

For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,

but the path of the wicked leads to destruction." (Psalm 1:1-6, NLT)
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