Devotional - Putting on Attitudes

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

The Sermon on the Mount is Matthew’s first recorded teaching of Jesus. And the first thing Jesus teaches on are attitudes in which we call the Beatitudes.

Attitude NKJV 1. Poor in spirit
Attitude NLT 1. Those who realize their need for him
Blessing NKJV 1. Kingdom of heaven
Blessing NLT 1. Kingdom of heaven is given

Attitude NKJV 2. Mourn
Attitude NLT 2. Mourn
Blessing NKJV 2. Be Comforted
Blessing NLT 2. Comforted

Attitude NKJV 3. Meek
Attitude NLT 3. Gentle & Lowly
Blessing NKJV 3. Inherit the earth
Blessing NLT 3. Whole earth will belong to them

Attitude NKJV 4. Hunger & thirst for righteousness
Attitude NLT 4. Hungry & thirst for justice
Blessing NKJV 4. Be filled
Blessing NLT 4. Receive it in full

Attitude NKJV 5. Merciful
Attitude NLT 5. Merciful
Blessing NKJV 5. Obtain mercy
Blessing NLT 5. Mercy

Attitude NKJV 6. Pure in heart
Attitude NLT 6. Hearts are pure
Blessing NKJV 6. See God
Blessing NLT 6. See God

Attitude NKJV 7. Peacemakers
Attitude NLT 7. Work for peace
Blessing NKJV 7. Called sons of God
Blessing NLT 7. Children of God

Attitude NKJV 8. Persecuted for righteousness sake
Attitude NLT 8. Persecuted because they live for God
Blessing NKJV 8. Kingdom of heaven
Blessing NLT 8. Kingdom of heaven is theirs

Vs. 11 NKJV they revoke and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

NLT Mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers.

Blessing

NKJV Rejoice and be exceedingly glad for great is your reward in heaven.

NLT Be happy about it! Be glad about it! For a great reward awaits you in heaven.

Jesus is showing us the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end.

If you want to have the Kingdom of heaven, to be comforted, to have the whole earth, to receive justice in full, to obtain mercy, to see God, to be children of God, then you need to have these attitudes or characteristics: Realize your need for God, mourn, gentle and lowly, hungry and thirsty for righteousness, merciful, pure hearts, work for peace, persecuted because you live for God.

These blessings are for the here and now. If this is the life you want then live intentionally with these attitudes. Strive to make these attitudes a part of you. Attitudes will turn into character.

The Parable of the Soils – Matthew 13:3-8
Jesus tells us about four different soils and their reaction to the word of God.

Footpath – these people hear the Good News but don’t understand.

Rocky Soil – these people hear and receive the Good News with joy. Since the soil is shallow, the roots aren’t very deep. At first they are fine, but wilt as soon as problems or persecution occur.

Thorny Soil – these people hear and accept the Good News but the message is crowded out by the cares of this live and the lure of wealth.

Good Soil – these people hear and accept the Good News and produce a harvest, thirty, sixty, hundred times more.

The first three soils teach us what to look out for. These are warnings. Obviously, we want to be the good soil and have everything we do be productive.

What does this have to do with weight loss? Everything. Weight loss is all about attitudes and behaviors and changing your lifestyle. Putting these attitudes in place will help you achieve your goals.

Tomorrow: Believers are Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13-16) & the Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30)

  

Devotional - Putting on Attitudes

Monday, December 31, 2007

In Colossians 3:12, Paul tells us in the New Living Translation to clothe ourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

A question was asked how do we clothe or put on these attitudes. In putting on a shirt, how does a child learn to put it on?
- First. The shirt is put on the child by the parents. (Mentorship - I do it and you watch.)
- Second. When the child is old enough and has understanding and the motor skills, the child puts on the shirt. During this time, the child may still need some help with buttons and other things. (Mentorship - You do it and I watch.)
- Third. Putting the shirt on becomes part of the child's nature and doesn't require any supervision. And when the child is put in the position as a parent, the child can teach another child.

With this in mind, we need to go back to where Jesus is putting on us these attitudes. Where do we find Jesus doing that? It is in the Sermon on the Mount and in the Parables.

Over the next several weeks, I am looking at the Sermon on the Mount in sections as they are listed in the New King James Bible and the Proverbs as listed in the Appendix of the Jesus Bible - New Living Translation.

Tomorrow: The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) and the Parable of the Soils (Matthew 13:3-8)

  

Sunday - Eating an Elephant

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Isn't every day God's day? Our pastor preached on Colossians 3. Coincidence? I think not. 2008 is a year for relationships. And the pivotal point for relationships is loving yourself. We are told to love our neighbor as ourself. If we don't know how to love ourself, then how will we know to love our neighbor. Focus on the basics and then the big things will take care of themselves. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SHAUNH20 12/30/2007 5:43PM

I often ask myself, would I love myself if I weren't me? And the answer is always no. In fact I'd probably dislike myself. The goal is to change that. Otherwise you will never get anything done in life. Good luck on your New Years 2008 fitness goals!! Report Inappropriate Comment

BREAKFAST AT CHURCH

Saturday, December 29, 2007

I had breakfast at the church this morning with the Men's Prayer Breakfast and then our wives and children came a little later and we served them breakfast. The word that came out for today is intentionality. We have to be intentional in everything we do. Paul tells us to put on tender mercies, kindness, and love in Colossians 3. That means we have to be intentional. Even though we have the fruit of the Spirit, we have to engage that fruit by putting it on. That is the same with weight loss. We have to be intentional.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

HEALTHYWRITER 12/29/2007 5:31PM

How right you are! Report Inappropriate Comment

Back in the Saddle

Friday, December 28, 2007

I bought a new bathroom scale that shows the weight and BMI. Last night, I weighed in at 259.4 pounds and this morning I weighed 255.6 pounds. I fixed an Asian Chicken Salad with a Japanese Soy Garlic Vinaigrette dressing. It was a little different for me as I don't care for Asian food too much. But this salad was pretty good. I will probably adjust the recipe a little to suit my taste.