Attitude Adjusting in Christ
I want to discuss some serious stuff today.
Paul writes in Philippians 4:8-9:
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (nasb)
The moment you find belief in Christ and truly ask Him to be Lord of your life, you become a new creation in Christ. The old person is gone. You are spiritually born again! You are a part of God’s family, and you receive an inheritance to be made complete in His presence.
In the meantime, He expects us to be holy as He is holy. Now, that may seem like a complicated task, but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! Paul likens it to a race that we must run. We are given the free choice of how we choose to train and run, but always remember…the Holy Spirit is there to lead our way. We have been bought with a price and we’re not our own!
As Christians most all of us would agree with the above. If that is true, then why struggle by glorifying the old self and follow the prince of this world?
It may be that we fail to realize that we are on a battlefield and there really is a foe with which to do battle. And we also fail to realize that the battle is actually won or lost in our own mind.
To win the battlefield of the mind, Paul says we must not merely let our thoughts happen but take each one of them captive to obey Christ.
2 Cor 10:3-6
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,
4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. (nasb95)
And with these thoughts of holiness we are to live our lives walking in the steps of Christ!
We must train our minds to think Godly things. Obtain and put into practice the mind of Christ. Most Christians including myself need an attitude adjustment. The battleground is truly in the mind and for most of us our thoughts still reflect our desire to gratify the old self who obeyed the worldly prince.
If we want to be like Jesus, then we need to no longer merely let our thoughts happen but take each of them captive to obey Christ. If we think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy one will be drawn into the awesome presence of God and be enabled to think with the mind of Christ. Paul’s prayer for the church of Philippi was that the God of peace might be with them and empower them to put into practice those 8 virtues to place them walking in the footsteps of Christ.
Remember, you may be the only way some will ever see Jesus. What do you do with it?
Choose Jesus, choose life and let your light shine! And find a Bible believin’ church where you “fit in” and know, grow, and follow Christ! Tell others! See y’all at church and keep PRAYIN’ for HIS HARVEST! Pray for the rain! Amen!