Pharisäer und Zöllner – Fresko (F3), Basilika Ottobeuren
How is your attitude?
Attitudes seem like they can fluctuate from day to day. That is more likely a reflection of mood than attitude.
Attitude is more of a long term disposition than a short term measure of how we feel. Our attitude controls whether we always find the negative in a situation or if we are able to find something to learn from it.
Pilots describe their aircraft’s position in the sky as its attitude. If it isn’t oriented just right relative to the horizon, then it will not fly efficiently. It might get to where it is going, but it will have used more fuel and suffered more wear and tear than normal.
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14) is the portrait of attitude.
“Lord, Look at me!’
Vs.
“Lord, I can’t bear for you to see me”
One has accomplished everything he can…
…and…
…one is growing by leaps and bounds.
Paul reminds us that no one is righteous (Romans 3:10) and everyone has sinned. (Romans 3:23) Yet many have an attitude that causes them to be like the Pharisee and totally miss that point. Even though his attitude makes his sin even more visible to us, he is totally blind to it himself!
Challenge: In Philippians 4:4-13, Paul lists a numbers of things that will change our attitude. Pick one of the things there that might need some improvement. What is it doing to your attitude and what could you accomplish if you changed it?
April 17, 2014
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