DIVINE ATTITUDE (16 OF 52)
Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11
This content is part of a series.
Divine Attitude (16 of 52)
Series: Lectionary, Year A
Christopher B. Harbin
Philippians 2:1-11
Attitude makes a big difference. It changes how we approach different circumstances. It impacts our relationships. It alters the way we interact with strangers, news, and uncertainty. It guides how we process grief, joy, sorrow, pain, and failed expectations. It plays a large part in how others respond to us and how they see us. Attitude is instrumental in how adaptive we are to a world in flux. What can we learn and adopt from God's attitude portrayed in Christ Jesus?
We talk about first impressions as being very important. Those impressions are often not so much about questions of appearance. Rather, the stronger impressions we take away from our encounters with others stem from our perceptions of their attitude. A dour disposition, an angry glace, a response given on edge are almost certain to color our impressions of others more deeply than an assessment of their appearance. Those who display attitudes of peace, contentment, congeniality, and the like are much more likely to endear us for no other reason that an attitude that sets us at ease.
When Paul writes this letter to the Philippian church, he uses the expression, ''the mind of Christ'' as he addresses the essential character of God's attitude on display in Jesus. He calls on the believers to claim that outlook or attitude for themselves, being transformed after the image of Christ. These words do not come out of nowhere. They were not words uttered into a vacuum or in circumstances of ease. On the contrary, they were words written from his imprisonment as he watched others suffering due to attacks on the faithful.
Life was not going all that well for Paul by any of our measures. He was under arrest with Roman guards chained to him day and night. He was likely still en route to Rome where he could easily be facing death under Nero. Claudius had years before expelled the Jews from Rome. Nero had ...
Series: Lectionary, Year A
Christopher B. Harbin
Philippians 2:1-11
Attitude makes a big difference. It changes how we approach different circumstances. It impacts our relationships. It alters the way we interact with strangers, news, and uncertainty. It guides how we process grief, joy, sorrow, pain, and failed expectations. It plays a large part in how others respond to us and how they see us. Attitude is instrumental in how adaptive we are to a world in flux. What can we learn and adopt from God's attitude portrayed in Christ Jesus?
We talk about first impressions as being very important. Those impressions are often not so much about questions of appearance. Rather, the stronger impressions we take away from our encounters with others stem from our perceptions of their attitude. A dour disposition, an angry glace, a response given on edge are almost certain to color our impressions of others more deeply than an assessment of their appearance. Those who display attitudes of peace, contentment, congeniality, and the like are much more likely to endear us for no other reason that an attitude that sets us at ease.
When Paul writes this letter to the Philippian church, he uses the expression, ''the mind of Christ'' as he addresses the essential character of God's attitude on display in Jesus. He calls on the believers to claim that outlook or attitude for themselves, being transformed after the image of Christ. These words do not come out of nowhere. They were not words uttered into a vacuum or in circumstances of ease. On the contrary, they were words written from his imprisonment as he watched others suffering due to attacks on the faithful.
Life was not going all that well for Paul by any of our measures. He was under arrest with Roman guards chained to him day and night. He was likely still en route to Rome where he could easily be facing death under Nero. Claudius had years before expelled the Jews from Rome. Nero had ...
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