Happy New Year! Here's a prayer for a blessed beginning to 2017 and a joyous year in His care, service, and for His glory.
You know, many of us enter the New Year with a bad attitude. The reasons are a bullet list of remembrances, emotions, unfulfilled expectations, and disappointments that have jaded us to the point we're cynical as we step through this threshold. New Year's weekend may be the most opportune time for an attitude check, you know, checking the attitude pulse as the New Year begins.
And, the attitude thing isn't another personality test or strengths assessment, or a measure of our personal tendencies. In fact, for believers, it's just a quick reminder of the attitude that should characterize followers of Christ. At the bottom line of our faith development is the thought Paul wrote to the Corinthians---
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being
transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this
comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV
If this is true, then our attitude should be that of Christ.
Again, this isn't a mystery hidden from us. In a brilliant explanation of Christ's mind to the Philippians, Paul gave us a glimpse of Christ's attitude. It is the attitude Christ should find in us. Paul wrote about it this way---
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very
nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but
made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human
likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and
became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
Philippians 2:5-8, NIV
From these verses come five appropriate attitude pulse check questions---
AQ1: Is Christ my attitude goal consistently through the year?
AQ2: Does my Christian faith create a servant heart in me?
AQ3: Is the humility of Christ evident in my attitude about life?
AQ4: How does my life reflect his humble obedience?
AQ5: Are there limits to my personal obedience?
So, before the weekend gets lost in football games, family gatherings, special traditions, the New Year's food groups, and all the other particulars that mark the New Year, pause for a moment for an attitude pulse check.
Happy New Year!