Reframe Your Attitude

Humility can be defined as “freedom from pride or arrogance”. At its core, humility requires us to put others and their needs ahead of our own ambitions or desires. By having an attitude of humility, we make ourselves distinct from the rest of the world as it goes against our own natural tendency to not pursue what we want first. It’s just not something that comes easily or naturally to us without having the Holy Spirit within us.  Thankfully, we have been given the perfect example of humility in Jesus. He was the son of the almighty God, creator of Heaven and Earth, but lived in poverty and made himself a servant to others throughout his life. Jesus lived the perfect life of sacrifice for others, which ultimately culminated in the ultimate sacrifice of his life on the cross. Instead of calling down all the angels of Heaven to save him as he hung on the cross, he endured all the pain and willingly chose to be sacrificed in your place.  Has the story of the cross and Christ’s sacrifice on it become so routine for us we are no longer shocked and shutter when we hear of the excruciating amount of pain and torture that Jesus endured? Has time sanitized the suffering of our Savior to the point where it no longer touches our hearts anymore? That's why taking communion is so important to the Christian Church and community. Communion allows us to pause for a few minutes and to reflect with the bread and cup, and to remember Jesus’s loving sacrifice. It is a time to recall, to repent of our sins, and to remember the cross. The world drinks to forget, but the Christian drinks to remember. Reflection/Discussion Question: When has someone else's example of living a life of humility impacted you?

Jesus started this off in the highest position that he could be; he was seated at the right hand of the Creator of the universe in Heaven. But in Philippians 2:5-8, it says, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!” Why would Jesus do that? Why would he go all the way from the top down to the bottom? But Jesus didn't stay on the cross, he didn’t stay in the tomb, and he did exactly what he said he would do. Jesus said that he was going to come out of his own grave, and that's percisely what he did. And because death could not keep him, we have a hope of eternal life. And we have a hope that if we are willing to make ourselves humble, lowly, and meek as well, that something can happen if we put our trust in Jesus that, that we too can find salvation. Jesus was the perfect example of servanthood, submission, and sacrifice. It doesn't stop there though. Verses 9 through 11 tell us, “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 acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Jesus now sits beside his Father in Heaven and waits for God to give the command that it is time for Jesus to return. So, in the meantime, we are called to live a life of consistency, have a spirit of unity, and have an attitude of humility. Reflection/Discussion Question: Do you struggle with a spirit of humility? What about Jesus's example inspires you to live a humble life?

In Acts chapter five, the apostles were arrested for preaching about Jesus and talking publicly about his death, burial, and resurrection. Acts 5:40 states, “They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.” Flogging was extremely painful and was done with a whip made of a leather strap that had three different strands that were interwoven through the fabric, and they would have little pieces of metal, sharp pieces of glass, and sharp little bones throughout. Many times a person would not survive a flogging. Thankfully, each of these apostles did on this occasion, and after the floggings, they were threatened again. But the apostles refused to stop talking because their experiences with Jesus. In fact, verses 41 and 42 tells us, “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.”  They're beaten and yet, they celebrate? Why did they celebrate when being granted the opportunity to suffer? It was because they suffered for Jesus’s name; he was their savior, their Lord, their master. He was the one whom death could not keep. Jesus had told them to expect suffering and persecution, and he himself had endured it during his earthly ministry. The opposition didn't seem to dissuade the first Christians. In fact, the opposition actually inspired them. They realized that their suffering enhanced their testimony and deepened their faith, and it also made them look more like Jesus. Unity brings joy, and they felt honored that they had the opportunity to do something that Jesus had done. They were united with Christ through their suffering.  Discussion/Reflection Question: When in your life have you allowed opposition to inspire you instead of bringing you down?

Throughout the book of Philippians, Paul suggests that those within the Church are all part of a team. The Church is filled with all sorts of names, but ultimately the only name that matters is the one that's on the front of the church, and that's the name of Jesus. Why is Paul stressing this to Christians? It was because they were in the midst of a season of intimidation, opposition, and persecution. Paul says, “Stand firm in one spirit, strive together as one for the gospel because while your faith is being tested on a daily basis, you don't need to fear those who oppose you.” The phrase “being frightened or terrified” has this idea that it is an inward fear produced by an outward stimulus. In this particular case, it was persecution because those living in Philippi who received this letter from Paul, they were facing it daily. It was an extremely violent time in history. But what was it that Jesus said in Matthew chapter 10, verse 28? He said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. Rather be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” We have a reverence and a healthy fear for God, but not for those who disagree with our faith or try to make life difficult for Christians. You're not in this battle by yourself.  There are others beside you and with you who are standing together in the faith; we are united. Remember Hebrews 10:25: “Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing.” When you worship with other believers, you are in community and you have a support network if you go through a rough time. In community, you have numerous opportunities to encourage others and to use your gifts. We are stronger together than we are a part. When the church is unified, God is glorified. Discussion/Reflection Question: Reflect on a time that being a part of a Christian community helped make you stronger.