Is My Attitude Like That of Christ? (Part 2)

When thinking about the topic of humility and self-denial, our minds naturally go to Philippians 2, where we find one of the clearest descriptions of Christ’s own humbling of Himself.  We are commanded in verse five to “have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.”  A closer look at the context of this passage, however, is helpful in understanding more fully what God through the apostle Paul is teaching us here.  The verses immediately preceding this passage are about relationships within the Body of Christ and the unity and humility that are to exist there.  This is important, because putting self to death always takes place within the context of relationships.  It is in this context that our own selfishness becomes most evident, and it is this concern for self that all too often hinders or even destroys the relationships God has placed in our lives.

Romans 12:3 is a similar passage, in which we find an exhortation to Christ-like humility within the context of relationships in the Body of Christ.  The context immediately preceding this verse is the familiar call to present ourselves as living sacrifices.  Verse 1 begins with “Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God….”  This offering of ourselves, then, seems to be the natural response to what Paul has been talking about in the first 11 chapters of Romans – namely, the Gospel!  This takes place as we renew our minds through the Word of God so that our thinking is more like that of Christ and less like that of the world.  One of the primary means by which this offering of ourselves in service to God is worked out practically is through the relationships He has put within the Body of Christ, which Paul goes on to talk about in the rest of this chapter.  At the very beginning of this section, however, is the reminder that we should not think of ourselves more highly than we ought, which greatly impacts the way in which we view others with their unique gifts and personalities and the way that we serve others.  If I am thinking too highly of myself, I will be much less likely to honor others before myself (vs. 10), to give generously to others (vs. 13), to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep (vs. 15), to associate with the lowly (vs. 16), or to return good for evil (vs. 17-21).  Having the mind of Christ and a proper view of myself is the only way that I will truly be able to exhibit these characteristics of a servant as I relate to others around me.

So once again, I must ask myself, “Is my attitude like that of Christ?”  I need to be renewing my mind daily by spending time with Him, so that my thinking is less conformed to the world and more like that of my Savior!

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…”  (Phil. 2:5)

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”  (Rom. 12:2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is My Attitude Like That of Christ?

If someone were to ask me, “Do you want to be like Jesus?” I would readily agree that, yes, I do want to be like Jesus!  In fact, God’s purpose for me is to conform me more and more to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29).  Philippians 2:5 tells us that we are to “make [our] own attitude that of Christ Jesus…,” and the passage goes on to describe Christ’s selfless humbling of Himself to the point of death on a cross for us.  Mark 10:45 tells us that “even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”  A true disciple of Christ, therefore, will share in Christ’s attitude of humility and selfless service for others.

I have found that a look at some of the “one another” passages in the New Testament, as well as a study of Christ’s own example of service, can help me to identify some key characteristics of a servant.

For example, a servant is someone who…

Serves others tangibly…

-          John 13:1-15 – Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, then told them to follow His example.

-          Gal. 5:13 - “Serve one another in love”

-          Gal. 6:2 -  “Bear one another’s burdens”

-          1 Pet. 4:9 – “Offer hospitality to one another “

Is focused on others…

-          John 19:25-27 – Even on the cross, Jesus is thinking of others!

-          John 13:34-35 – “Love one another “

-          Rom. 12:10 – “Be devoted to one another”

-          Rom. 15:17 – “Accept one another”

-          1 Cor. 11:33 – “Be considerate of one another”

-          1 Cor. 12:25 – “Have concern for one another”

-          1 Cor. 12:26 – “Sympathize with one another”

-          Eph. 4:32 – “Be kind and compassionate to one another”

Prays for others…

-          John 17:6-26 – Jesus prays for His disciples and all who will believe on Him in the hours immediately preceding His crucifixion.

-          James 5:16 – “Pray for one another”

Denies self and puts others first…

-          John 4 – Jesus puts the spiritual need of a Samaritan woman before His own physical needs.

-          John 18:11; 19:17 – Jesus endured the suffering of the cross for our sake!

-          Rom. 12:10 – “Honor one another above yourself”

-          1 Cor. 4:6 – “Don’t have pride toward one another”

-          Eph. 5:21 – “Submit to one another”

-          Phil. 2:3 – “Consider others more important than yourself”

-          Phil. 2:4 – “Look out not only for your own interests but also for the interests of others”

-          James 4:11 – “Do not slander one another”

-          1 Pet. 5:5 – “Treat one another with humility”

Shares truth with others, even when it is costly or uncomfortable…

-          Matt. 10:21-25; John 6:60-66 – Jesus repeatedly taught truths to His disciples and the crowds that would have been very unpopular, but He loved them enough to be honest with them!

-          Rom. 15:14 – “Instruct one another”

-          Col. 3:16 – “Admonish one another”

-          1 Thess. 5:11 – “Encourage one another”

-          Heb. 10:24 – “Spur one another on towards love and good deeds”

This is just a sampling of the many passages that speak about the attitude we should have towards others, but it is clear that we ought to be growing in these things if we are truly becoming more like Christ! 

What does my attitude towards others and my service reveal about Christ to those around me?  When they see me, do they see Him?

Growing Pains

As a child growing up, like most children, I occasionally experienced those familiar aches that parents like to call “growing pains,” and I can remember my mom assuring me that there was nothing wrong with me – my aches were perfectly normal and simply meant that I was growing!  Although I am now done growing physically and no longer experience such aches and pains, there is another type of growth taking place that can also be painful at times.  Romans 8:28-29 tell us, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son…”  This is God’s ultimate purpose for me – to make me increasingly more like Jesus Christ – and He knows exactly what is needed in my life for this to take place!  Most often, I have seen this growth happen as God strips away those things that have a tendency to be a source of pride.  As I was reflecting recently on some of the areas that have been the greatest struggle for me in the past few years, it hit me that many of those are things that at one time I considered to be strengths.  Looking back, I can identify numerous areas in which God stripped away the things in which I was most confident, and though painful at the time, I can identify each of those seasons of life as being times of great growth!  I am thankful for God’s faithfulness in my life, as He continues to teach me that nothing in life is about me, and everything I have comes from Him, as a gift to be used for His glory, not for my own self-promotion!

John 15:2 reminds us that God, as a skillful vineyard keeper, “prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it might bear more fruit.”  This pruning process can be very painful at times, but God knows what things need to be removed from our lives in order to promote greater growth in Christlikeness.  Sometimes it is sin that must be removed; other times, it’s things that are not bad in and of themselves, but that we tend to rely upon and treasure too much, thus keeping us from seeking after God and depending on Him like we should.  It could be any number of things – health, talents, family, friends, jobs, money… good things that come from God and are to be used for His glory, but if we begin to pride ourselves in them, as though any of it were because of our own merit or efforts, can become idols very easily. 

In spite of God’s faithful pruning, however, that same old pride creeps into my heart all too easily, and how quickly I forget what God has taught me and begin to put confidence in my flesh once again!  Yet He lovingly continues His work in my life, reminding me yet again that I am nothing apart from His grace.  Maybe the problem is that I need to spend more time meditating regularly on the truth of the cross of Christ, because, as someone has said, Jesus did not come to earth to pat me on the back and tell me what a good job I am doing, but to die for my sins!  There is nothing more effective in humbling our pride than to gaze long and often at the cross!  In its shadow, we are all equally undeserving and stand in need of His mercy every single day!  Oh that God would help us to live daily from that perspective, with a gospel-centered humility and gratitude! Only then can we be effective at all for His glory, as we stop comparing ourselves with others and instead recognize that it is all by His grace alone that we have the immense privilege of being coworkers together for Him!

“But God forbid that I should boast, except in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”  Gal. 6:14

 

Lord, Show Me Your Glory!

I have often wondered what it would have been like to be Moses and actually get to hear God’s voice audibly and clearly.  Exodus 33:11 tells us that “the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.”  That must have been an incredible experience, and certainly a special privilege that he had been given, as God’s spokesman to the people of Israel.  Yet what really amazes me about Moses is what we find in the following verses of Exodus 33. 

Moses is feeling understandably overwhelmed by the task of leading the whole nation of Israel to the promised land, and he reminds God of His promise to go before him and be with him throughout this journey.  He realizes that what he needs most is a deeper understanding of Who God is and a greater awe of His glory.  This is the man who regularly spoke with God face to face, but he was not satisfied with this!  Instead, he boldly asked God to show him His glory (Ex. 33:18).  Although God reminded Moses that no man could see the full display of His glory and live, He graciously granted Moses’ request by allowing him to directly witness a small portion of His glory.  Even this small display must have been spectacularly awesome and caused Moses’ face to shine brightly long after it was over (Ex. 34:29).

I think about how privileged I have been to know and experience so much of the glory of God through His complete Word and through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, Who is the fullest revelation of God, and whom Hebrews 1:3 describes as “the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person.”  Yet have I allowed myself to become satisfied with what I already know of Him, or do I desire, as Moses did, to know Him more and see more of His glory revealed?  Am I thirsting for Him daily, as David speaks of in Psalm 63, realizing that everything I know of Him and have experienced just scratches the surface of the infinite depths of Who He is?  May my continual prayer be, “Lord, show me Your glory, that I may know You more!” 

Comfort or Contentment?

Recently I was in a girls’ locker room after watching a basketball game and saw a quote hanging up that I thought was very fitting for more than just sports!  The part that really stood out to me was, “Comfort is dangerous.  Contentment is essential.”  What a profound statement that reminds me of that elusive balance in life between being content with the life God has given us on the one hand yet not allowing ourselves to become too comfortable on the other hand.  This is something that I have been wrestling with for some time now and definitely don’t have it figured out, but it seems clear that the Bible calls us to contentment but not to a life of comfort.  So what is the difference between the two?  As I was pondering this question, I identified several parallels between them…

·         Comfort is an absence of challenges or pressures in life.  Contentment is the inner state of our heart regardless of the circumstances of life.

·         Comfort can exist without contentment.  Likewise, true contentment can exist apart from comfort.

·         Comfort can breed laziness, complacency, boredom, and ingratitude.  Contentment is motivating, stimulating, energizing, and tends toward thankfulness.

·         Comfort is what we naturally default to.  Contentment must be intentionally cultivated day by day.

·         Comfort can weaken us spiritually.  Contentment is an evidence of spiritual strength.

As we begin a new year, how can we cultivate true contentment in our lives, while fighting against our natural tendency to want to be comfortable?  We must start by looking to the One Who is Himself the source of true contentment, for He created us after all to be eternally satisfied in Him!  David writes in Psalm 63:5, “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.”  In Psalm 16:11, he says, “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”  True contentment comes from a right relationship with God and intimacy with Him.  We should never allow ourselves to become too comfortable with where we are at spiritually, but continue to diligently pursue the goal of knowing Him more fully!  This we do through the daily disciplines of prayer and Bible study.  The more we set aside our fleshly desires for comfort day by day in order to pursue God more earnestly, prioritizing prayer and His Word in our lives, the more truly satisfying we will find Him to be and the more true contentment we will experience.  As we seek Him and delight ourselves in Him, obedience to Him will often require us to do things that are outside of our comfort zone.  If we are willing to step out in obedience and do the hard things, we will be strengthened spiritually. 

Lord, show me how I can grow in the areas of prayer and Bible study this year!  Help me to discipline myself daily and invest the time and effort necessary to truly grow closer to You day by day!  Show me where I need to be willing to move out of my current comfort zone in order to be more fully obedient to You and grow stronger spiritually!

 “O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.” (Ps. 63:1)

“My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death… I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:10-14).

Is My Light Growing Dim?

Christmas time is nearly here, and one of my favorite things about this time of year is driving around after dark and seeing all the beautiful light displays people have put up on the outside of their houses!  Many are simple yet elegant, but some are truly spectacular in their brilliance!  I enjoy driving down one particular street this time of year, because it is lined with beautiful white light displays on either side for at least a couple of miles.  They stand out in stark contrast to the dark night sky behind them. 

All the Christmas lights remind me of the way that God describes what we as Christians are called to be in Philippians 2:15 – lights that shine brightly in a dark world.  Recently my pastor preached on this passage, but he brought out something that I had never really considered very much in connection with this.  The very next verse says, “Holding fast the Word of life,” thus connecting our ability to shine as lights in this world with how committed we are to the Word of God!  The word “hold” in this verse could also be translated “offer,” or “hold out,” which would give it a slightly different but closely connected meaning.  It is only as we are holding firmly to the Word of God ourselves and giving our lives daily to it that the power of God’s Spirit at work within us through His Word will set us apart from the world around us and make them curious to know what makes us different.  Often then, if God is at work, this will lead to opportunities for us to share that same Word with them, which alone has the power to transform them just as it is transforming us!  What a beautiful picture!  God’s Word is not only the means by which we are sanctified, as John 17:17 reminds us, but it is also the fuel for our Christian life (Matt. 4:4) that will enable our lights to keep burning brightly in the darkness all around us! 

So the question that I have to ask myself is, how prominent has God’s Word truly been in my life?  How much do I prioritize time spent in reading, study, meditation, and memorization of it on a daily basis?  If I am honest, probably far less than it deserves!  Is it any wonder, then, that my Christian life seems so often to lack the power and vitality that I long for, and my testimony for Christ seems often so ineffective? 

I need God by His Spirit to give me a renewed hunger for the eternal food of His Word every day, as well as the insight to understand its meaning for my life so that it will truly impact me on a daily basis!  Far too often I am so full of other things to which I have given a higher priority that I have little appetite left for God’s Word and find myself easily distracted and bored with it.  Oh that God would show me what lesser things I need to forego so that I have more time and interest left for what is most satisfying and strengthening to my spiritual life!

 

“Help me understand the meaning of Your precepts so that I can meditate on Your wonders… How sweet Your Word is to my taste – sweeter than honey to my mouth.  I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every false way.  Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.”  

Psalm 119:27, 103-105

Trials - a Tool in the Hand of Our Faithful God!

I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.  Psalm 119:75

This week I am celebrating one year since my brain surgery, and looking back I have so much to praise the Lord for as I consider the evidences of His sovereignty and loving Hand in my life!  Part of me hesitates to even call what I went through a "trial," because it seems so small in light of the suffering that many others have been entrusted with.  However, God, in His perfect wisdom, knew that this was exactly what I needed at this particular time in my life, and I have no doubt that He used it, and continues to use it, to teach me about His faithfulness.  As a loving Father, He does not always give His children what is most comfortable or convenient, and sometimes it is downright painful, but He always gives them what He knows will be most effective in bringing about growth in Christlikeness (Rom. 8:28-29)!  I will never forget the following statement that I once heard in a message - "God's goal is not to make me comfortable but to make me Christlike."  How thankful I am that He is willing to allow me to experience difficult, painful situations at times, not because He doesn't care or can't stop them, but He purposely chooses not to spare me from all pain, because He, my perfect Father, knows that would not be best for me!

The more I think about God's timing with this ordeal surrounding my brain tumor, the more amazed I am to realize that He allowed all of this to happen exactly at a time in my life when I most needed to be shaken up and learn by experience that God alone can satisfy me - that He alone is enough and always will be, regardless of the circumstances of this life!  I was at a point in my life that I was very dissatisfied with where I was at and was really struggling to find enjoyment in what He had given me to do.  By taking me out of commission for a few weeks and bringing me to a point of physical (and at times emotional) brokenness and dependence upon Him and others, I was awakened in a whole new way to His wonderful goodness to me - that I deserve NOTHING at all, and every day He gives me is a gift from Him to be used for His glory!  The fact that I was given the gift of complete recovery from a fairly major surgery just made me even more humbled and grateful for the gift of life and health and gave me a whole new perspective and excitement about life that I had not felt in a long time!  I can truly say that I went back to teaching and my other responsibilities a different person after that experience, and nearly a year later that new enthusiasm and joy is not diminished!  Now instead of longing for Friday and dreading Monday, I find myself looking forward to Monday, excited about starting a new week, and overwhelmed whenever I think about how privileged I am to be able to be doing what I'm doing right now - loving my job more than I ever thought possible, and thrilled with the incredible potential for ministry here in the Iowa City area!  Truly, it is only by His grace, and I praise Him for bringing me to this point!

I think that one of the reasons why trials can be such a powerful tool to awaken us to God's goodness and to draw us closer to Him is that they have the potential like few other things to humble us and to renew our appreciation for things that we so often take for granted!  Nothing can sooner weaken our effectiveness for Christ or dampen our enthusiasm in life than pride and ingratitude, and God knows that there is nothing quite like trials to weaken both of these enemies of our souls!  I truly believe this is why Paul could say, "Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me... for when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor. 12:9-10). 

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." I Peter 1:3-7