A New Attitude
Scripture: Philippians 2:1-4(NLT)
1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort
from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts
tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing
wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working
together with one mind and purpose. 3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to
impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than
yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an
interest in others, too.
Devotion:
Wouldn’t it be great if every church were like the church that the
Apostle Paul was encouraging us to be in this passage! Of course
churches aren’t perfect places, but what if we actually tried? Can we
do better than we are doing?
Certainly we can. If the church really wants to make a difference in
this troubled world in which we live, this would certainly be one way.
Can you imagine how hard it would be in this day and age to get into a
place where everyone was looking out for you instead of themselves?
People couldn’t be kept away. Perhaps people would even be willing to
miss the kick off of the (insert your favorite professional football
team here) game to stay and fellowship. Maybe we could even have the
game on while we spent time with each other?
A church full of humble people loving and serving each other would
make the headlines. The fact that the church has made continued to
exist 2000 years since Jesus showed us how to live and love like this,
says that in some places and at some times the church must actually
work.
Today lots of people are wringing their hands about declining church
attendance. Gloom and doom fill the headquarters of many denominations
as they plot their graphs and charts that supposedly determine the end
of their organizations. Their charts and graphs may turn out to be
correct. However, I know that the true church of Christ. The one that
loves the other unconditionally and serves the other untiringly will
always be able to keep its doors open.
How do I know this? Christ said that even the gates of hell would not
be able to prevail against that church. How big is your vision? Can you
see your congregation lasting another 100 years? Take the challenge
that Paul has given us here in this scripture. Check your attitude and
see if it measures up against this standard. If you change your
attitude and commit to following Jesus the church will change. Jesus
will send the Holy Spirit to help you change. If you don’t believe that
read the second chapter of the book of Acts again.
Are we willing to change? Jesus hopes so.
Prayer:
Father you are a wonderful God. We bless your name and thank you for
the gift of your son Jesus. Thank you for your church. Help her now to
respond to the call of your Spirit. Give us a new attitude. Open up our
lives to a radical transformation by a gift of your Pentecost power.
Teach us how to love you and each other as selfless servants. In Jesus
name, Amen.
1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort
from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts
tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing
wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working
together with one mind and purpose. 3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to
impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than
yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an
interest in others, too.
Devotion:
Wouldn’t it be great if every church were like the church that the
Apostle Paul was encouraging us to be in this passage! Of course
churches aren’t perfect places, but what if we actually tried? Can we
do better than we are doing?
Certainly we can. If the church really wants to make a difference in
this troubled world in which we live, this would certainly be one way.
Can you imagine how hard it would be in this day and age to get into a
place where everyone was looking out for you instead of themselves?
People couldn’t be kept away. Perhaps people would even be willing to
miss the kick off of the (insert your favorite professional football
team here) game to stay and fellowship. Maybe we could even have the
game on while we spent time with each other?
A church full of humble people loving and serving each other would
make the headlines. The fact that the church has made continued to
exist 2000 years since Jesus showed us how to live and love like this,
says that in some places and at some times the church must actually
work.
Today lots of people are wringing their hands about declining church
attendance. Gloom and doom fill the headquarters of many denominations
as they plot their graphs and charts that supposedly determine the end
of their organizations. Their charts and graphs may turn out to be
correct. However, I know that the true church of Christ. The one that
loves the other unconditionally and serves the other untiringly will
always be able to keep its doors open.
How do I know this? Christ said that even the gates of hell would not
be able to prevail against that church. How big is your vision? Can you
see your congregation lasting another 100 years? Take the challenge
that Paul has given us here in this scripture. Check your attitude and
see if it measures up against this standard. If you change your
attitude and commit to following Jesus the church will change. Jesus
will send the Holy Spirit to help you change. If you don’t believe that
read the second chapter of the book of Acts again.
Are we willing to change? Jesus hopes so.
Prayer:
Father you are a wonderful God. We bless your name and thank you for
the gift of your son Jesus. Thank you for your church. Help her now to
respond to the call of your Spirit. Give us a new attitude. Open up our
lives to a radical transformation by a gift of your Pentecost power.
Teach us how to love you and each other as selfless servants. In Jesus
name, Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment