"ATTITUDE OVERFLOW"
Attitude can make us or break us. If we enter a race, a challenge, a marriage, a job, or even the beginning of a new day with a bad attitude, we are more likely to miss the mark than if we have a good attitude. That’s a pretty well known fact that is hard to miss. However, it’s not as easy to apply as you may think. There are many contributing dynamics that go into our attitude that can lead us to think we have a handle on things when in reality we are bringing more baggage than we intend.
Attitude is so important that we are told that ours should be like that of Jesus.
Philippians 2:5 (ESV) Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
Philippians 2:5 (NIV) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
What about Jesus’ attitude could we apply to ours?
1. Jesus’ attitude was positive but not put on.
2. Jesus’ attitude was focused but not on Himself.
3. Jesus’ attitude was committed to the end.
Jesus was able to remain positive, even when things around Him were not. Granted, He had the power to raise the dead, give sight to the blind, and heal the sick but His attitude was not based upon His own abilities or power, rather the desire to do the will of the Father. Jesus’ power, passion, and attitude was a result of such a close relationship with the Father that what people saw and heard would be called an “overflow” of the Father through the Son.
John 14:10 (ESV) Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
John 17:4 (ESV) I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.
Likewise, our attitude of strength and power or the ability to look at the challenge ahead and remain positive is not our ability, rather an overflow of God in us. As one preacher said, “It’s not a question of how big is our faith, rather a question of how big is the God of our faith?” The more we know Him, the more positive our attitude will be.
Jesus’ attitude was focused on others, rather than Himself.
Philippians 2:4 (ESV) Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Even on the cross, Jesus is directing John to take care of Mary. His focus in life was not what He was going to get. It’s easy to fall into the trap of being “self focused” even when we try to focus on others. We can easily become manipulators or control freaks when we do kind deeds, or worse, take pride in what we are doing. Our attitude of placing the needs of others first again flows from an overflow of Jesus in our lives, not by trying to produce it.
The testimony of commitment as seen in the attitude of Jesus is unparalleled.
Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV) 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
You will never find a greater example of commitment. Yet, as much as we think we are able to buckle down and produce similar steadfastness, there is really no way we can without it being an overflow of Him in our lives.
Paul found this principle true as he faced life, at one time counting on what he could produce in himself but found it needed to be discarded. As a result, he found a change in attitude that overflowed from knowing Christ and the power of Christ within.
Philippians 3:10-14 (ESV) 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Do you need a change of attitude today? You have a choice. You can try to make it happen or you can follow the example of Jesus and allow His attitude to flow and overflow in and through your life today.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
Bob is the pastor of Christ Community Presbyterian Church, Clearwater, Florida. See www.ccpconline.org for church information and listen to Bob’s latest sermons.
FCA Endurance – Clearwater – We have registered and are forming a Clearwater Huddle of the FCA Endurance team. The first meeting/BBQ is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. this Saturday, 7/24 at our home. Check my website for updates and/or send me an email to RSVP: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please pass the word to athletes in the Clearwater area. For information about FCA Endurance see www.fcaendurance.com .
