I just have to say this to start I know without a doubt if I don’t right this I want get any sleep for the simple reason that God ain’t letting it go.
How many of you have ever thought about “attitude”. Do we really understand what it means, what it is or what it can do in our life? Well let me start this off by giving you Webster’s definition of “attitude”. There are actually several and I feel the need to include them all because of the content of this blog. Attitude a bodily posture showing mood, action etc, a manner showing one’s feelings or thoughts, ones disposition or opinion etc, (slang) a quarrelsome or haughty temperament or manner. Boy now that is a mouthful. Now I know we all have attitudes about a lot of things in our lives. And this is just as much for me as it is anyone else. But I truly hope this speaks to you as much as God has spoke to me through all of this.
The definition of attitude in the Webster dictionary is a very good description of the world today but let me tell you it has also came to the point that this same description describes so many in our churches today. May I ask, is this a good thing or a bad thing, well in my honest and humble opinion as they say in class sometimes I thought the church and Christians themselves were to be set apart. After all isn’t that what the word sanctified means. If that is the case then why is it today that the world cannot see any difference in themselves and the church? It is all about our ATTITUDE. Let me share with you for a few minutes what I actually got to experience during a sermon I was hearing tonight that was titled “The Christian Attitude”.
While I was attending a revival service the preacher got up in the pulpit and started off by sharing a few good stories and then told us what scripture he would be basing his sermon on. The scripture was Philippians 4: 13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” what a wonderful verse that we all know and have quoted numerous times. Well, this is where it gets good. When I opened my Bible to the scripture I had this scripture already marked, now you may say “yeah because it is so familiar” yes you could be right but not this time. You see not only was it marked but there was notes, the same title of the sermon, some of the same notes and a date 08/19/07. You see the same preacher that was delivering the message at the revival was the same preacher that delivered the original message in August of 2007. The only difference in the two sermons was the places they were being delivered and now for the big one, THE ATTITUDE in which it was received.
Now the first time I heard the sermon I enjoyed it just as much as I did tonight. But when I heard it tonight God revealed to me something that I would never have expected. God reminded me of the surroundings and attitude of the church where the first message was preached. There were those that murmured and said that they did not like feeling like they were being constantly put beat up and felt like it was negative. Then there were those that stood back with their arms crossed thinking “I know he is not talking about me”. Another difference was the empty altar, now that one bites I am sure. Can we say this could be a very good description of a pessimistic attitude? Now I am sorry if I am stepping on toes but I am just telling you what God has shown me tonight.
Then there was the attitude that this same sermon was received tonight. I would have to describe it as the optimistic attitude. These were a people that accepted the Word that God was giving them and took it as a blessing. And at the end of the sermon when the altar call was given it was packed. They left the place of worship with a heart filled desire to have the optimistic attitude. Smiles on their faces and joy in their steps. Looking forward to the next meeting to receive more of what God has for them.
I will say this much I have never had the opportunity to experience anything like it. To be blessed to hear the same sermon twice would not be unusual but for that same sermon to be about “The Christian Attitude” and God bringing the sermon to life by showing me the two different attitudes in the way this same sermon was received. WOW what an awesome GOD we serve.
Yes when it all come down to it "IT IS ALL ABOUT ATTITUDE" what kind of attitude do you want to have.
