A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST'S ATTITUDE

We are living in a world that is suffering from an 

overdose of self-esteem.  The pride of mankind

is damaging our relationships with each other.

Admittedly, as we watch these proud peacocks

running around trying to portray the image of;

an important business man or an intellectual

or a super model or a big bad biker or just

a good old boy or even a super saint - we 

scoff at them - to ourselves.  And might even

laugh out loud when they trip and fall.

God tells us that there will be a time when this

will all be brought down.  I confess, I'm looking

forward to it.

"Human pride will be brought down,

and human arrogance will be 

humbled.

Only the LORD will be exalted

on that day of judgment."

(Isaiah 2:11 NLT)

But as a Christian or a disciple of Jesus Christ 

what is to be my attitude?

The apostle Paul tells us;

"You must have the same attitude that Christ

Jesus had.

Though he was God,

he did not think of equality with God

as something to cling to.

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;

he took the humble position of a slave

and was born as a human being.

When he appeared in human form

he humbled himself in obedience to God

and died a criminal's death on a cross.

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of

highest honor

and gave him the name above all other

names,

that at the name of Jesus every knee 

should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under

the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ

is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father." 

(Philippians 2:5 - 11 NLT)

Notice, 

the very creator of the universe, Jesus Christ

himself;

1. Voluntarily humbled himself.

2. He suffered for it.

3. And is now be exalted for it.

We are to have the same attitude.

Look how the apostle Peter addresses

the issue;

"So humble yourselves under the mighty power

of God, and at the right time he will lift you up

in honor.  Give all your worries and cares to 

God, for he care about you."   

(1Peter 5:6,7 NLT)

I love that.
If I humble myself,
at the right time God will lift me up in honor
and in the meantime - I am to give him ALL
of my worries and cares.

TODAY'S PROMISE

"So humble yourselves under the mighty power

of God, and at the right time he will lift you up

in honor.  Give all your worries and cares to 

God, for he cares about you."

(1Peter 5:6,7 NLT)

WORRIES AND CARES

It seems people have more worries and cares
than ever.  In this day and age I notice it so much
more than in past years.  There are worries from
work, or the lack of work.  Worries about relationships,
bills, safety etc, etc, etc.

If you think you are the only one with worries
turn to the social media and follow all the people
who are asking for prayer for one reason or another.
It also seems that a high percentage of the posters
are people with problems and they do nothing
but moan and grown about it meaning they are
still worrying about it, him, her etc.

Corrie Ten Boom said it so well when she said;

"Worrying is carrying tomorrow's load with today's
strength - carrying two days at once.  It is moving
into tomorrow ahead of time.  Worrying doesn't
empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today
of its strength."

There are people who try and tell you to just
stop worrying and look on the bright side of
things.  The only problem here is - it don't work,
and it sure don't pay the bills.

Do you want to know something that does work?
Stick with me through a few points.

Jesus Christ said;

"So don't worry about these things, saying,
'What will we eat?  What will we drink?
What will we wear?  These things dominate
the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly
father already knows all about your needs.
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else,
and live righteously, and he will give you
everything you need." 
(Matthew 6:31-33 NLT)

Did you see the conditions that Christ put in
there?

1.  Worry is something that should only be in
the domain of UNBELIEVERS.
2. "...our heavenly father..." God is not the
father of us all.  The Scriptures make it
clear that most of the people in the world
are children of the DEVIL, not of God.
So if you are not in relationship with God
Almighty you have lots and lots of reasons
to worry.
3. Your focus has to be on God and his Kingdom.
If you are focused on you and your little kingdom
God is not obligated to take care of you.

God does care about you, even if you belong to
the Devil.  He knows the number of the hairs on
your head, if you have any.  But to just live for
yourself and expect God to get you out of trouble
is like taking all your bills and throwing them in
the front yard of some banker or other and
expecting him to pay them for you.

Speaking to God fearing and loving Christians,

Saint Peter said;

"Give all your worries and cares to God,

for he cares about you."

(1 Peter 5:7 NLT)   

Let me tell you about a young man I worked
with many, many years ago.  He was what we
called a "worry wart" back then.  He worried
about every thing.  And if he did not have anything
to worry about - that worried him,

We of course had talked about his need for God
in his life.  So one night he called me on the phone
and told me he wanted to get right with God.
We went over the need to go to God and ask
him for forgiveness.  Then the need to submit
to Jesus Christ and ask Christ to come into his
life and take control etc.  So he said, "I going to
do that now."

Some time latter he called me and told me
"I did what you told me to." or something
to that effect.   I thought, "O, yea, sure, I
bet you did." or some such thought.

In a few days I began to notice something.
The boy did not worry anymore.

Saint Paul said;
"Don't worry about anything; instead,
pray about everything.  Tell God what
you need, and thank him for all he has
done.  Then you will experience God's
peace, which exceeds anything we can
understand.  His peace will guard your
hearts and minds as you live in Christ 
Jesus."
(Philippians 4:6,7 NLT) 

TRUE FREEDOM FROM WORRY

"But I will bless the person who puts his trust in me.

He is like a tree growing near a stream

and sending out roots to the water.

It is not afraid when hot weather comes,

because its leaves stay green;

it has no worries when there is no rain;

it keeps on beasring fruit."

(Jeremiah 17:7,8 GNT)

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HE CARES FOR YOU

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"Casting all your care upon him,

for he careth for you."

(1 Peter 5:7 KJV)

"Cast all your anxieties on him,

for he cares about you."

(1 Peter 5:7 RSV)

"Leave all your worries with him,

because he cares for you."

(1 Peter 5:7 GNB)

God cares for us.

But I am afraid that I have been thinking of God's

caring for me - too much in the way I care about people or things.

Dr. PB Vargis gives a better insight regarding God's care.

My appreciation for Vargis' view point is that it stems from

many years of living by faith, totally dependent on God.

Not from the study of some student, nor from institutions of higher

learning.  But from experience.  Hard cold experience.

Dr. Vargis states,

"When the Word says that He 'cares for' us, 

it doesn't mean God feels sorry for us.

It means He takes full responsibility for us."

(Compelled... to share His love. p.86)

PRAISE GOD.

God wants to be my caretaker.

My care provider.

My caregiver.