Attitude Under Construction

Deuteronomy 10:12–22 CSB

12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you except to fear the Lord your God by walking in all his ways, to love him, and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul? 13 Keep the Lord’s commands and statutes I am giving you today, for your own good. 14 The heavens, indeed the highest heavens, belong to the Lord your God, as does the earth and everything in it. 15 Yet the Lord had his heart set on your ancestors and loved them. He chose their descendants after them—he chose you out of all the peoples, as it is today. 16 Therefore, circumcise your hearts and don’t be stiff-necked any longer. 17 For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God, showing no partiality and taking no bribe. 18 He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the resident alien, giving him food and clothing. 19 You are also to love the resident alien, since you were resident aliens in the land of Egypt. 20 You are to fear the Lord your God and worship him. Remain faithful to him and take oaths in his name. 21 He is your praise and he is your God, who has done for you these great and awe-inspiring works your eyes have seen. 22 Your ancestors went down to Egypt, seventy people in all, and now the Lord your God has made you numerous, like the stars of the sky.

This month I celebrate 25 years of service to our Lord and Savior. On June 13, 1996; He took me out darkness and placed me in His marvelous light. I promised Him that if He helped me say the sinner’s prayer that I would serve Him the rest of my life. I did nothing to deserve it. He saved me because it pleased Him. The next day, I noticed a miracle on my hand (thumb nail), I pulled over (as I was on the way to work) and quit my job. I started fulfilling my promise to serve Him. I bought a Bible. I spent my days reading it. In addition, I spent my evenings watching and listening to preachers (there was revival going on and it was being televised on TBN). I was hungry and thirsty for the Lord. I needed more. Then, I found a Bible School in town. I enrolled and started my study of God’s Word. In October of that same year, I was invited to share my testimony in a church outside of San Antonio (that is when my service to the Lord started). It hasn’t been easy but it has been rewarding. Over the years, I have learned that our attitude is what gives us the ability to continue in His service. Attitude is not a destination but a journey, always under construction.

1. An Attitude to revere the Lord your God

We are told that God wants us to fear Him

Fear does not mean to be afraid of Him

Rather, fear in this context means to revere, respect, or honor God

Fear is how we gain wisdom; Prov 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

2. An Attitude to walk in all of His ways

We need the right attitude to walk in His ways

We need to be more like Christ in action and attitude

Paul tells us, Phil 2:5-11 “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 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.”

3. An attitude to love the Lord with all our heart and soul

Love is an action word

Love is a verb

When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment He said, Mt 22:37 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”

Guard your heart for out of it spring the issues of life Prov 4:23

Put the goals and interests of others above my own. – Philippians 2:3-4 “3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.”

Live an honest, open life before others. – Ephesians 4:25 “Therefore, putting away lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another.”

Give and receive Scriptural correction. – Hebrews 3:13 “But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.”

Clear up relationships. – Matthew 5:23-24 “So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.”

Participate in the ministry of the church. – 1 Peter 4:10 “Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.”

Support the work financially. – 1 Corinthians 16:2 “On the first day of the week, each of you is to set something aside and save in keeping with how he is prospering, so that no collections will need to be made when I come.”

Follow spiritual leadership within Scriptural limits and make it a joy for them. – Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”

4. An Attitude to worship the Lord in Spirit and Truth

Worship is not a song

Worship is a lifestyle

Paul tells us, Rom 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”

Living for God is our Spiritual Act of Worship

We need to have the right attitude to live the right way

5. An Attitude to surrender your life for His pleasure

Paul said, Phil 1:21 “21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

We need to live our lives devoted to the Lord

Rom 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”

We need to be pleasing to God

In all our activities we must bring Honor and Glory to God

Live a life for His Pleasure

Paul writes, Col 3:23 “23 Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people,”

We have to go all in

God is all in for us

He will never leave us nor forsake us

Live to honor Him

Live to please Him