Did you ever notice that one of the biggest adversaries we face is our own attitude?
We start out planning to have a good day and then life happens. We spill coffee on our new blouse; the dog knocks over our favorite plant, we get stuck in traffic, and the news, oh the news.
Things can spiral out of control quickly and it’s all being ruled by our attitudes.
Shortly after Jesus met up with Peter, James, John and Andrew on the seashore and they left their nets, He began His life of ministry. People were touched and miracles happened.
“Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news about God’s kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and sickness... 24Some of them had a lot of demons in them, others were thought to be crazy, and still others could not walk. But Jesus healed them all. 25 Large crowds followed Jesus from Galilee and the region around the ten cities known as Decapolis…” Matthew 4:23-25 CEV
People came by droves to see the miracle worker.
“5 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the side of a mountain and sat down. Jesus’ disciples gathered around him, 2 and he taught them:
3 God blesses those people who depend only on him. They belong to the kingdom of heaven!
4 God blesses those people who grieve. They will find comfort!
5 God blesses those people who are humble. The earth will belong to them!
6 God blesses those people who want to obey him more than to eat or drink. They will be given what they want!
7 God blesses those people who are merciful. They will be treated with mercy!
8 God blesses those people whose hearts are pure. They will see him!
9 God blesses those people who make peace. They will be called his children!
10 God blesses those people who are treated badly for doing right. They belong to the kingdom of heaven.
11 God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. 12 Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven. People did these same things to the prophets who lived long ago.” Matthew 5:1-11 CEV
This is the beginning of a message that continues for three chapters.
Jesus takes the time to meet people where they live. And the first thing He dealt with was the attitude of the heart. People in the crowd came because they were seeking answers to life’s problems; they were grieving, insulted, mistreated, dependent, hungry for a change, looking for peace.
His message to us is the same. There is not one thing that happens in our lives that He doesn’t see or know about.
“Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows you need all of these. 33 But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.” Matthew 6:32-33 CEV
This is all part of the message that Jesus delivered that day.
Don’t worry – God knows our needs. He wants to provide for us; He wants our attitude, our heart’s focus, to be one of trust in Him and His love. Then everything else will fall in line.
Be conscious of God’s mercy, peace, provision, loving care and then our be-attitudes will be right.