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“Attitude Towards Truth Is Triumphing Under Deliverer's Emancipation! (A.T.T.I.T.U.D.E)”

By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard

Aug 01, 2009

Editors Note: The devotional has a background song called 'Never Out of His Love', which can be heard if you use Internet Explorer.

SCRIPTURE:
“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.” (Philippians 2:5-7, NIV)

OBSERVATIONS:
I asked myself what is there to know about Jesus in these verses?
I looked for answers in the verses and came up with these: 
1. Jesus being in very nature God.
2. Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.
3. Jesus made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant.
4. Jesus being made in human likeness.

INTERPRETATIONS:
I asked myself what it means when it states, “Jesus being in very nature God?”
What came to my mind is that this verse confirmed to me that Jesus is God. Since He is God, He has existed from the beginning and all things were made by Him and through Him. In Him was the Light of life and the darkness could never extinguish it.

Since He is God, I know He is the Author of our lives. That is awesome to know that Jesus is the Author of my Life and yours too!

As an Author, He knows exactly what He has put in me and how I am made of. He knows the beginning of my life and the ending of my life. He also knows everything about me during the time span between those two. Since He has the copyright to me, no one can claim me as their own except the Lord Himself! I belong to the Lord! (Verses in Psalm 139 explain this much better)

If anyone tries to take credit for His creation of me, they are committing plagiarism. Sadly, in this world many continue to do that by not acknowledging the Author’s work in a human beings life but instead attributing that life to evolution. How sad! I did not come from no ape but was  created in my mother's womb by the Author of Life! You too!

I asked myself what it means that, “Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be grasped”?
What came to my mind is that Jesus did not let his high position influence things for his own benefit even though He is God. He did not grasp on to his position of power and dictate how things ought to be. On the contrary, He does something that is so mind boggling. He made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant. That is so amazing that Jesus would do that.

I asked myself what it means that “Jesus made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant"?
 It reminded me of how Paul started his letter in Philippians 1: "Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,…”

Jesus made Himself nothing claiming no rights but instead came to serve humanity. He came to seek and save the lost. That is so wonderful to know that the God of the Universe took time to be with the people He created and decided to serve them. There are no words to describe it! Especially knowing that He was made in human likeness is that much more exciting.

I asked myself what does it mean to be made in human likeness?
What came to my mind is Jesus came in human likeness to be able to relate to us what we go through. He served as a human being on earth though He is God. He experienced sorrow, joy, laughter, pain, and even death as He related to us. But everything Jesus did He did it for you and me friend.  He was tempted by somebody He loved and used to have good  fellowship with in  Heaven! That somebody was an Angel called Lucifer who fell from heaven, taking 1/3 of the angels with him and roams the earth in different capacities waiting to have evil fellowship now with people in his demonic way.  One day he approached Jesus and tempted Jesus 3 times with physical, psychological, and power based temptations. Jesus did not give in but claimed Scripture and threw it at Satan and defeated temptation. So Jesus understands what we go through when we are tempted. He wants to help us!

He was betrayed by a close friend, He used to have fellowship with on the earth. That somebody was Judas Iscariot who betrayed him for money. One day he approached Jesus with a band of soldiers and betrayed him with a kiss, a kiss. Jesus was in pain! So Jesus understands when we are betrayed and feels our pain. He wants to help us!

These are only 2 examples and there are many more how Jesus being made in human likeness understands what we go through and wants to help us. The difference is that He did not sin!

IMPLICATIONS:
I saw important implications for my life  from this passage! The purpose of today's devotional study is to learn: “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.” (Philippians 2:5-7, NIV)

I can have that attitude because of Jesus has been victorious over Satan's temptations which came in three forms and Jesus can now help me overcome Satan's temptations in my own life as I yield to Jesus, using the Word of God as my arsenal weapon to defeat Satan and his temptations. I praise the Lord for every temptation, Jesus has given me a way out and I need to seek that way instead of giving into my flesh and indulgences.

I am reminded from Galatians that when we 'Walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh!' Help me Jesus.

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING A.T.T.I.T.U.D.E:
The truth is there is only one attitude worth striving for and it is with Jesus. I saw how short I come each day to match Jesus' attitude. I am glad Jesus helped me  read through and process a book called, "Lord, Change My Attitude: Before It's Too Late". Here ATTITUDES of CRITICALNESS, REBELLION, COMPLAINING, COVETOUSNESS, & DOUBT are addressed. I am going through this book again with Edwin, one of my mentors. I am learning to replace those attitudes with THANKFULNESS, CONTENTMENT, LOVE, TRUST, AND SUBMISSION as I ask Jesus for His help to match His attitude.

Jesus being God could have expected so much as a LEADER but instead Jesus became a SERVANT to serve. Jesus made me see that being a servant to other people where I serve in love is more important than aspiring to be a leader first. Without having a servant attitude, as a leader, I had become narcissistic, domineering, judgmental, prideful, etc thinking life revolved around me and my own ideas. In the process, it is the followers who suffered. Instead of being a servant to lead the flock, I was a leader who succumbed the flock. There were moments I did serve but overall I lost the meaning of servant leadership and my attitude became my downfall.

Oh how different Jesus' attitude is compared to mine. If Jesus ever chooses me to be a leader in ministry again, I would rather have others see me as a leader who came to serve rather than being served. I want my attitude to be like Jesus. I know I don't need a title of leadership to have a servant's heart and serve. What I need is Jesus to help me become more like Him. I am still flabbergasted to know the kind of servant Jesus is. I am so touched by Jesus' attitude.

Jesus' attitude was for my sake to serve me and save me. Thank you so much Jesus. I know I will also learn the benefits of Jesus' attitude in my own life. Thank you Jesus.  I want my attitude to reflect Christ and so should you. If Jesus became a servant to serve though He is a leader, I should not expect anything more. I should be a servant and I can be a servant by the Lord's grace working in me. Praise the Lord. You too can! For only attitude towards truth is triumphing under Deliverer's emancipation!

I ASK YOU NOW:
I ask you now dear friend, how you match Jesus’ attitude in life?
Dear friend it is exciting to know how Jesus lived His life and how He set example after example for us to follow and match. He is the best matchmaker! I believe our attitude can be like Christ, as we take our lessons from the Master Himself and give ourselves to Him for His help wanting to imitate Christ.

I know it won’t be easy to be a servant when the world emphasizes ‘me, self, I, individualistic, and power concepts’ but the Good News is when we have Jesus in us, we won’t be trying to live a life of servant hood on our own but we will be allowing Jesus to work in us and through us. He created us and knows how He can help us the best. What we need to do is obey and follow having faith in Jesus fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. It won’t be easy when we are surrounded by Satan's temptations but thanks be to the Lord for His help!

Even though, Satan roams the earth like a hungry roaring lion looking for someone to devour and even though Satan will set trap after trap in our lives, trying to trap us into doing wrong by enticing and seducing us his evil ways, we won't have to give in when we are filled with the Spirit and walking in the Spirit of the Living God. Father God will help us! Praise the Lord.

The danger comes only if we go after the flesh because then we will fulfill the lust of the flesh and give into Satan and his temptations. It may seem so good before we give in but afterwards there is the stench of sin overpowering us. I have been there and don't want that for you or me. Help us Lord Jesus.

Just as Satan attacked Jesus in the wilderness with the 3 P’s: Physical attack, Psychological attack, and Power attack, he will use those 3 P’s to attack us too. He knows our weaknesses and will push the right buttons to take us down and down. The 3 P's could come in different forms in your life.

Though Satan comes prowling, there is Good News for He cannot overcome the Lion of Judah on the Throne! Yes, friend! Jesus is the Lion of Judah and will help us for He knows what works against the devil. Jesus used Scripture to attack the devil to overcome temptations and has given us not only those Scriptures but more in the Bible : “Breathe In Bible Live Eternally! (B.I.B.L.E)” for us to overcome Satan’s temptations and attacks. But we need to take hold of the Word of God and realize that Satan will attack us when we are the most vulnerable. We will defeat temptation with the power of the Lord’s love and Word as we keep our focus on Jesus and not on the temptation itself. Don't rehearse the temptation because I can assure you, you will give in. Satan uses the best form of hypnotism that traps our flesh if it were not for us having Christ be our hiding place in life.

God's Word promises us in Psalm 32 that Jesus will be our Hiding Place to keep us from trouble surrounding us with sounds of victory. Jesus will also instruct us and guide us along the best pathway for our lives. Jesus will advise us and watch our progress.  It is wonderful to claim these promises and act on them.

You and I can do that in Christ when Christ rules us for then our attitude will become like Christ's for we would have yielded to the Loving Master and His ways.

It starts with acknowledging our own weaknesses and sinfulness before an all awesome Holy God who will not let sin enter into His presence. But the Good News is that Jesus became a servant for us to bring us to the Father by His sacrificial death on the cross to pay our ransom. Jesus did that to call us His very own when we turn our lives over to Him and accept His free gift of grace. It is His grace that justifies us and also saves us sanctifying our lives daily! Thank you Jesus! Let us turn to the Lord Jesus with our lives and match Jesus' attitude with His help. May you know that you can imitate the Author of Life as He will work in you! Amen!

"Attitude Towards Truth Is Triumphing Under Deliverer's Emancipation!" (A.T.T.I.T.U.D.E)/"How do you match Jesus' A.T.T.I.T.U.D.E in life?"

PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, thank you so much for being the Author of my Life. You know everything about me and you know what you put in me, for you created me and authored me. Thank you Jesus for that means a lot to me! I belong to you and no one can snatch me away from you even though people try to plagiarize and give credit to false sources such as apes and evolutionists for creating me. Forgive us Lord when we do not seek you with our whole heart. It is so awesome to know that you are God and there is no other. Not only that Jesus, for me you became a tiny baby and became a human being to live on earth and serve humanity. Yet, you did not forget where you came from and who you are. Thank you for your miracles and how much you understand what we go through. You understand when we are tempted and betrayed. You understand when we take a loss of a loved one. You understand so much and want to offer yourself for us in our life. Thank you Jesus! You have showed me an attitude I should strive for and it starts with you. Oh help me Lord Jesus. Thank you so much Jesus. I want my attitude to reflect your lifestyle but I need your help so much for I cannot do it on my own. Forgive me and help me Lord. Thank you so much! Help me overcome the enemy! Thanks so much Jesus. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

If you want to be a soldier in the Lord's army, you can become it right now. Now is the time of Salvation! You do not have to wait but can pray this prayer and give your life to Christ to serve Him daily! There is no draft but coming to Christ is voluntary. He loves you so much and wants you to come to Him! He will take care of you, guiding you and leading you!

Dear Jesus, I love you. Thank you for loving me so much and thank you for choosing the cross to die for me. You became the Son of Man and LIVEd here on earth. Then you humbled yourself and became obedient to death-even death on the cross. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. You died on the cross so that I can be covered in your blood and cleansed by your blood as I acknowledge that I need you and cannot enter Heaven without you being my pathway. So, Jesus I confess all my sins to you and all the ways I have tried to get into Heaven when you already provided the means and the Way. Thank you for all that you have done for me. The cross is the place, a wonderful place where accused and condemned find mercy and GRACE. Thank you Jesus, it is at the cross where the wrongs we have done and the wrongs done to us were nailed at the cross. Thank you Jesus, at the cross you died for our sins and at the cross you gave your life for us. I thank you for that and thank you for coming back to life to save us. Thank you Jesus for being there for me! Thank you for loving me. I love you Jesus! Please take me as I am and make my life into something that you will be proud of. I surrender my life to you and need your help to LIVE for you. I am forever grateful for what you have done for me and I can never repay you. I want to LIVE for you and need your help. Help me Jesus please. I thank you Jesus for saving me! Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering me. Whatever your will give me the willingness and strength to bear it. Thank you Jesus! I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior! In Your Name I Pray precious Jesus! Amen!

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help! But beware of churches who do believe in the Word of God completely but there is no freedom in Christ but legalism involved.

As a professional, it is not too late to join a church! As a student, it is not too late to join a fellowship on campus this  new year of 2009! May the Lord's presence and peace fill you with His love now and forever! Amen!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!

Spend time in His word and let the Lord speak to you! Start out in the Gospel of John! You can also check out the Gospel of Mark which are the devotionals I have been going through.  Learn from Jesus through study and prayer. Also find yourself a church fellowship and a college fellowship you can be part of where you can be part of a community of believers to supplement your own walk with the Lord. Let it be a Bible-believing and Bible-breathing church! Believe in Bible LIVE Eternally!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-720-4579

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Love in Christ,
Ramesh

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