Thursday: Changing Attitudes
The disciples not only struggled with preconceived ideas that kept them from understanding what Jesus taught them, they also shared national prejudices. One example of this is the story of the Samaritan woman from whom Jesus asked a drink of water. The disciples were surprised that He even spoke to the woman (John 4:27) .
National prejudices also came to the fore in the account of Cornelius, a Roman centurion based in Caesarea. Cornelius was “a devout man and one who feared God” (Acts 10:2, NKJV) , and highly respected by the local people (Acts 10:22) . An angel instructed him to send for Peter in Joppa (Acts 10:22; see also Acts 10:3-8) .
Image © Jeff Preston from GoodSalt.com
Meanwhile, in Joppa, Peter goes up to the rooftop to pray (Acts 10:9) . With shelter from the sun and the cool sea breezes, he relaxes and begins to feel hungry, and while waiting for his hosts to prepare lunch he sees a strange vision. Heaven opens and something like a huge sheet tied at the four corners is let down. Inside the cloth is an assortment of creatures that he regards as either polluted or “unclean” and from which he is told to kill and eat (Acts 10:11-14) .
What was Peter’s reaction when he was told to eat “unclean” food, and what did the vision mean? Acts 10:12-29.
In this vision God teaches Peter an important lesson. Some people today think that this is the time when God changes the human diet to allow people to eat whatever they like. That is not what Peter receives from the vision. First he wonders what it means; it is not at first obvious (Acts 10:17) . When Cornelius’s men arrive and explain their mission, Peter feels compelled to return with them (Acts 10:22-23) . When Peter meets Cornelius, he is able to tell Cornelius the meaning of the vision. Christ is the Savior of all the world. Gentiles, too, are precious souls for whom Christ died (Acts 10:34-48) .
Peter was learning a lesson that we all, still, need to learn. In Christ all barriers have been torn down and the distinction between Jew and Gentile, between all people, no longer exists, “but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (Acts 10:35) .
It’s nice to believe that we are all one in Christ; that’s what the Bible teaches. Unfortunately, even in the church that’s not always how we feel in our hearts, is it? First, how can we recognize the prejudices that we hold, and, second, in the power of God, how can we be purged of those prejudices?
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The Apostle Paul declares that God is impartial (Romans 2:11). Still some might get confused and question how it is that God showed favor to Israel above others (Deuteronomy 7:6) and set apart some for special tasks to the apparent neglect of others (Numbers 3:12, 13).
God does not relate to everyone the same way and He does not assign the same roles to everyone as a way to equalize the people or to demonstrate His impartiality. In fact not all relate to God as children to their Father (John 8:44).
To the audience at Cornelius’ home Peter with fresh understanding notes that God shows no partiality, and goes on to clarify that God accepts from any nation whoever fears him and works righteousness (Acts 10:34-35, 43).
Although the Creator has just claim on all He has allowed those who have divorced (separated) themselves from Him to remain estranged at their pleasure. He does not force himself on any. Rather by the plan of redemption He has extended the right arm of restoration to all (John 3:16). In this the Savior is impartial, the outworking of a love which is unconditional and unaffected by the actions and responses of all (Romans 5:8).
Though human minds may not always readily comprehend God’s actions or choices or assignments, whatever He does is born of love (1 John 4:7).
‘A bad attitude is like a flat tyre, you can’t go anywhere until you change it.’ They also say your attitude determines your altitude. From today’s lesson we learn that as children of God, we need to check our attitude. If we have a bad attitude and view other people as if they are unworthy of God’s grace then the Gospel we have will not go far. Who are we to judge that this Gospel is meant for a certain group of people? It is God’s desire that ALL should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9) (1 Timothy 2:4).We need to be people who are ready to be sent wherever God wants us to go. Jesus Christ died for ALL humanity (2 Corinthians 5:15).
When we read the story of the Samaritan woman (John 4:4) clearly says ‘Now He (Jesus) HAD TO go through Samaria’. He had to go through there because there was a need and He wanted to clear these national prejudices which He knew too well if not attended would be a hindrance to the spread of the Truth. The Great commission says we need to, ‘go and make disciples of ALL nations (Matthew 28:19).The Word we have is for ALL nations and ALL people hence the bottom line is we need to have a good attitude and to love all people and make an effort to live in peace with EVERYONE (Hebrews 12:14).Hence today’s lesson is all about us, how is our attitude like towards other people. May the Holy Spirit search everywhere within us and help us change our attitude for the best in order for us to be able to tell people of the GOOD NEWS that we have.
The best thing we can do every morning is to ask God, to "Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me." Ps.51:10. This pray requires us to have a meek and humble attitude, who are will to be taught by the Holy Spirit daily. This is a daily pray and by meditating on the word of God we will be changed to reflect His character. As brother Tambu wrote above "A bad attitude is like a flat tire, you can't go anywhere until you change it." We are in control of our attitude. We all have choices each day as to what attitude to choose. Brothers and sisters, bad attitude has on place in God's house. But there are. Let us pray and submit for God to purge us clean of this plague.
I would like us to read the story of Samaritan woman found in John 4:1-42 and the story of Zacchaeus found in Luke 19:1-10. Both story Jesus (Omniscient) had a divine appointment with them. Jesus revealed to this woman by saying I AM the Christ!!! And with Zacchaeus, He called him by name "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down for today I must stay in your house." (LK.19:5). Both cases Jesus knew them by name. Just as Jesus knows you and I.
Hymnal 570: Not I But Christ Be Seen and Be Known. The barometer text to checking our attitude towards other is found in Ps. 119:11.
Elijah, one point I would discuss is this; attitude reveals character. We have no power ourselves to change our character, and thus our attitude. We can surrender to the One who can create in us that clean heart and renew right spirit. All we can do is choose. (Jer 13:23; 17:9, Zech 4:6)
Through humility we can exercise faith, but in pride, only unbelief.
The best thing we can do is Renew our minds with the Word of God so we can Think like he Thinks and Experience his Good Plan for our Lives. ROMANS 12:2 says," Do Not be Conformed to this World, But be Transformed by the Renewing of your Mind, that you may prove what is that Good and Acceptable and Perfect will of God." When we spend time Studying the Word and Renewing our mind with the Truth,it helps us set our Mind in the Right Direction so we can have more Victory in Christ in our Life. And as this New Way of Thinking Gradually Renews our Mind, it Dilutes the Old Thinking and Transforms our Perspective and Attitudes. AMEN!
Changing Attitudes or foundational beliefs what is the difference?
Was Peter's attitude towards the Gentiles from the Scripture or not?
In a separate post we have been talking about the difference in what they believe between two groups, (C) one believes God chooses who saves and (A) the other that we choose whether to respond to God's invitation.
If I am (C) and you are (A) should we both be trying to change the other one's beliefs?
When is it right to change our attitudes/beliefs and when is it wrong?
The truth be told, there is more than a little Peter in all of us , and just like Peter we need the loving Savior arms around us so that we can see our nothingness without Him.
Peter was taught that what God has called unclean remains unclean, but Peter had been indoctrinated by generations that called anyone not of the seed of Abraham unclean, which God had never declared. It was God's purpose from the beginning to restore Adam's race to a world made new in the perfection of Eden. We are made unclean by choice, never by birth.
What we can also learn from this experience is that no matter how long we have walked with Jesus, we can still grow in grace and in a knowledge of Him. The path of those justified by faith is as a light that shines more and more unto the perfect day.
"First, how can we recognize the prejudices that we hold, and, second, in the power of God, how can we be purged of those prejudices?"
Salvation in Christ alone can renew the heart. In Jesus we are both justified and sanctified into His likeness, who died for all sinners and saves all who receive Him, giving them power to become the Sons and Daughters of God. God loves and desires that none perish and brings to each the opportunity to be saved.
These lesson studies have raised the discourse repeatedly on the issue of disunity and prejudices among God's people, from the time Christ called the twelve - even before the church was officially established - to the present time. Dissension is a very effective ploy employed by the evil one, to set back the success of God's work for the salvation of men. Since he was cast out of God's kingdom, where he started division and war, the devil has not ceased his tactics her on earth and the controversy intensified in fulfillment of (Gen. 3:15). Hence the devil knows quite well, from experience, that to divide and conquer works for his purposes since he managed to convince a third of the angels to join him in rebellion against God; but he also knew who the ultimate Victor would be. The serpent would only be allowed to bruise the heel of the seed of Christ but his head would be CRUSHED.
Thankfully, nothing takes our God by surprise so He made a contingency plan long before it was needed. Jesus, the Savior was that plan and the plan would be unveiled and executed at the cross. By the time Jesus arrived on earth there was so much division and prejudice among the different sects and tribes and nations. There were divisions between Samaritans and Jews, Jews and Gentiles, men and women, Sadducees and Pharisees and an endless list of man-made rules to encumber and enslave certain selected groups of people who were deemed less worthy than others.
No wonder Isiah prophesied that Christ would come to "bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound" (Is. 61:1).
Jesus prayed a lengthy prayer for his disciples in which He pleaded with His Father "that they all may be one.." (John 17:21). Who knows like Jesus the importance of unity. He makes the comparison in alluding to the inseparable bond that exists between himself, the Father and the Holy Spirit as the kind He desired for His disciple and by extension all of God's people all over the world.
What a day that will be when we all stand together as ONE representing the body of Christ. After all, we don't get to choose who our neighbors will be in the earth made new. So guess what? We all have to start learning how to live together in unity right down here in this world with all the evil that surrounds us. God will, when He sees fit, take us out of this evil world but until then He is able to keep us from the evil and unite us in righteousness.
HYMN FOR TODAY:
Blessed Be the Ties That Bind
Our Hearts in Christian Love
The Fellowship of Kindred Mind
Is Like to That Above.
We Share Our Mutual Woes
Our Mutual Burdens Bear
And Often For Each Other Flows
The Sympathizing Tear!
Prejudice hinders our way to the cross, we want things to happen our way rather than the Lord's. Here we need to be careful we are not on do it yourself righteousness. Thus we block the way to the cross for others.
The importance of the disciples sharing precious time with Jesus. In doing so, He can change and adjust attitudes. The same goes for us today. I found this in Desire of Ages Chapter 43 p. 402
Jesus longed to unfold the deep mysteries of the truth which had been hid for ages, that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs with the Jews, and "partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel." Eph. 3:6. This truth the disciples were slow to learn, and the divine Teacher gave them lesson upon lesson. In rewarding the faith of the centurion at Capernaum, and preaching the gospel to the inhabitants of Sychar, He had already given evidence that He did not share the intolerance of the Jews. But the Samaritans had some knowledge of God; and the centurion had shown kindness to Israel. Now Jesus brought the disciples in contact with a heathen, whom they regarded as having no reason above any of her people, to expect favor from Him. He would give an example of how such a one should be treated. The disciples had thought that He dispensed too freely the gifts of His grace. He would show that His love was not to be circumscribed to race or nation.
When He said, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel," He stated the truth, and in His work for the Canaanite woman He was fulfilling His commission. This woman was one of the lost sheep that Israel should have rescued. It was their appointed work, the work which they had neglected, that Christ was doing.
And the church said amen (that means all of us)!