Attitude
Do your thoughts determine your attitude? Or is it the other way around?
Verse of the Day
“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”
Today’s Devotional
Can you have something and not use it? There are many times I go to the store to buy something and when I come home, I realize I already had the thing I just bought. So is it possible that we already have the attitude of Jesus and we just aren’t using it?
In 1 Corinthians 2:16, we are told that “we have the mind of Christ”. If that is true, then why is it so hard for us to embrace and embody the same attitude that Jesus Christ had on this earth?
If we follow the logic of the verses following today’s verse, the answer must be that we are missing humility. Let’s look at those verses:
“Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:6-11)
This passage is a description of the attitude we are told to have. Humble. Giving up our rights and privileges. Taking jobs that are beneath us. Service to others. Obedient. Even when the obedience hurts.
Our attitudes come from our minds and are expressed in our actions, our body language, our words, and our tone. I don’t know about you, but my attitude is generally less Jesus-like than the above description. All of the commentaries I read about this say that having a Jesus attitude is a matter of choice. Our verse today says that “we must”, which says that we really need to have this humble attitude, but there is also the option not to.
According to the dictionary, an attitude is either a mental position or an emotional condition. Perhaps it is both. We can choose to align our mental position with Jesus, no matter what our emotions are telling us. We do this by embracing the thoughts of God’s radical love for us – the lengths He went to in order to reconcile us. We choose to set down our rights and privileges, and live a life of service to others. Not because we are forced, but as a response to God’s love and goodness.
If it is important to have the same attitude that Jesus had, then we simply must train our minds to focus on Him. As we do this, His love becomes evident, His kindness can be seen in our lives, His guidance becomes necessary, and the work He has for us to do becomes our desire. And when we need His help to be obedient, we ask. Because that is what He did. He talked to the Father regularly. So should we. And perhaps the more we talk to the Father, the more we will be able to focus our minds on Him.
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
Do your thoughts determine your attitude? Or is it the other way around?
How can you choose to embrace the same attitude that Jesus had?
Which aspect of Jesus’s attitude is the most difficult for you?
How can you choose to embrace the mind of Christ today?