Attitude

Attitude can make all the difference in the world. I understand what a person means not just because of the words they say, but also the way they say it. A stance, or a look can be the difference between night and day in what is being communicated. Words spoken cross and sharp insert attitude in the communication. Words spoken softly and with kindness communicate a feeling, not just information. We seldom speak with just words. Most of our communication is invested with attitude. Dramatic moments in a movie or play take attitude. Tender moments whether spoken in movie dialogue or real life situations elicit tears because they arouse our feelings. The attitude is communicated and we respond in kind.

One of the dangers of attitude is precisely the ability to project your attitude onto another person. Anger directed towards another often arouses anger. Animated people quite often get others excited too. Frustration can be felt and fear in another can cause us alarm. Attitude can be infectious (Deuteronomy 20:8; 1 Corinthians 16:8).  If someone who is cheerful can cheer me up, and if my gloom can make someone else gloomy, then attitude is important.

I must admit, there are times when I let someone else’s attitude affect me in a negative way. By the same token, my attitude has not always been encouraging. Since my attitude can affect others, I want to be positive and upbeat, and at the same time must guard against a negative attitude dragging my own heart down (Luke 6:45). I have been around people who seem to always project negativity. There are those who sour my stomach because I know them to be bitter and angry people. I do not want to be around them and I actually try to dodge them at times.

What if I were so upbeat and positive that instead of letting them bring me down, I brought them up? What if I were to face the onslaught of negativity with a cheerful disposition (Proverbs 15:30)? My aim should be not to tear down, but to build up and encourage. The bible tells my that through the Holy Spirit, I am able to do that (Acts 20:32). Lord, may I not be discouraged by the attitude of others, but may I be a source of encouragement instead.

A Heart for God

There are all kinds of people in the Kingdom of God. We are both united and divided along Various theological interpretations, political viewpoints, ecclesiastical paradigms, geographic, cultural and socio-economic differences. Our vocabulary is filled with labels to identify denominations, churches and believer's affiliations. With such a variety of believers in the Kingdom of God, one has to wonder if there is a constant. A common identifier that crosses all boundaries. As I read the Bible, there seems to be one thing God looks for in all people, whatever their identifier might be. In Luke 16:15 we are told that what elevates people in men's eyes is not what God is concerned with. What concerns God is not the boundaries that separate us from each other, but the one thing that unites us to Him, and thus unites us together. It is an undivided heart for God (Ezek. 11:19; 1 Cor. 7:35). Only then can we truly be His people, and He our God (Jer. 24:7, 31:33). An undivided heart devoted to a singular God is a unifying factor that transcends manmade boundaries (1 Cor. 6:17). We are united to Him and in becoming united to Him we are united together (Jn. 17:23). What pleases God is not the absence of distinction (1 Cor. 14:7), but presence of Unity (Eph. 4:13).