Attitude Adjustment

Dear worshipers of our Savior King,

            Have you ever seen pictures of children and then comment, “I can sure see that child has an attitude?” An attitude can involve our beliefs, feelings, values and actions. From the way we act or respond to a situation we reflect our attitude. We might comment that an individual has a great attitude towards life. This can reflect in our work. I love the story about two shoe salesmen. A company had sent the one to sell shoes in Africa. He wrote back, “Nobody wears shoes here.” So they pulled him from Africa. Another salesmen was sent and he wrote back, “what an opportunity, nobody here has shoes!” People would call that a positive attitude towards life. 

            Our Christian faith, our relationship to Jesus is to have an impact on our attitude towards life itself. Sometimes however we need to get an attitude adjustment. One day Martin Luther was sulking around the house and his wife went and dressed in black. When she was asked why, she said, she thought Jesus had died again from the way Luther was acting. As we keep the Epistle lesson before us, in particular the words, Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: An Attitude Adjustment. 

I.              Christ’s Attitude

When you think of Jesus, do you ever think of a worm? You know a worm you might put on a fishing hook? Or do you think of a worm that a robin pulls out of the ground? Do you have trouble with that picture? Yet that is a Bible picture taken from Psalm 22, the one that Jesus quotes from the cross, My God, my God why have you forsaken me? In Psalm 22:6 we read… But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. It was humbling for Jesus to leave the holiness of heaven and all its glory, to leave the place of timeless eternity, and enter a sinful world. Riding a donkey, washing the feet of disciples, being spit upon and crucified, we see unfolding in his life humiliation and true humbleness. (Phil 2:6-8 NIV) Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, {7} but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. {8} And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!

            Jesus’ attitude is reflected in two specific areas. One he was obedient. As a man he lived under the law, he did what the heavenly Father wanted perfectly and prayed, not my will, but your will be done. Peter who witnessed the passion wrote: {22} "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." {23} When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

The second area of Jesus’ attitude is reflected in his servant hood. Remember Jesus had to struggle with his disciples who didn’t understand being a servant. The mother of James and John show us our worldly ways. She came to Jesus and had a question,  (Mat 20:21 NIV) "What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." That is the same world we live in today. Jesus’ answer was (Mat 20:28 NIV) just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." 

            II. A Christian’s Attitude

On this Palm Sunday we have the story, one of many events in Jesus’ life. But can this have an impact on the rest of the week? Could it change our attitude in life and in our service? A hospital visitor saw a nurse tending to the sores of a leprosy patient and said, “I’d never do that for a million dollars!” The nurse answered, “Neither would I. But I do if for Jesus for nothing.” Paul writes to the Ephesians: (Eph 6:7 NIV) Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men. 

            Let’s look at the setting of the words of our text: (Phil 2:1-4 NIV) If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, {2} then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. {3} Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. {4} Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 

            Are there people in your life who have made a difference for you? Have they had just the right word at the right time? Have they given you an example in faith or life that you have admired? I came upon a story of a pastor who had such person make an impact on the first day he went to college. He grew up in a wealthy family in the Philippines and went to a Bible college in Manila. When he arrived he reported to the principal’s office that the bathroom and toilet in the boys’ dorm was dirty. A little bit latter he heard splashing and scrubbing sounds. Then he saw the president of the college emerge wet with perspiration saying, “Your bath is clean.” The shocked young man said, “You didn’t.” The president nodded and explained that they did not have the funds to hire a custodian at the time so we have to do things for ourselves. That was the example, the turning point in the young man life.     

            Jesus wants to be the one who makes a difference for now and eternity in our lives. (1 Pet 2:21-24 NIV) To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. {24} He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.   (Mat 20:25-27 NIV) Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. {26} Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, {27} and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--

            There comes a time when we need to reflect personally about where Jesus fits into our relationship and life. One culture has a saying that the center of the universe in ones navel, the belly button. Everything must revolve around me. What’s in it for me? Jesus is an example of humility and obedience. Jesus is an example of sacrifice and suffering. But some might say so are other people. But Jesus came to change our hearts and minds. His starting spot is the recognition of selfishness of sin in our lives. He calls us to repentance. He calls us to examine just how we have lived for our own navels.   He calls us to faith in him as our Savior. This does not mean just knowing about Jesus, about his example. This is a humble faith that trusts his work of salvation that he accomplished in Holy Week. 

            During that week not only did he show his disciples what it meant to be the Savior, he also showed them what it meant to be a servant. When he washed the feet of his disciples he told them John 13:14;Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you? Can we picture that servant attitude in our own midst between family members, congregational members? Can you imagine a congregation where we would never have to ask for volunteers because everyone was stepping up to the plate? Can you imagine the servant care for those outside our church, that we would still be loving and kind and caring for them, even though they didn’t go to Salem? Is my mind running wild, or is that what Jesus would imagine? Is his love just an imagination? Is his forgiveness an imagination? Is his patience an imagination? Is his obedience just an imagination? Or did he imagine his love, his forgiveness, his patience and his obedience would make a difference in the hearts and minds of the world? 

            There were two songs, I wanted to end the sermon with, we will sing the one, the other is my closing prayer: Make me a servant, humble and meek, Lord, let me lift up those who are weak. And may the prayer of my heart always be; Make me a servant, make me a servant, Make me a servant today. May we join in the next prayer, “I long to be like Jesus.” Amen.