Some people say teenagers today have an attitude problem.  If so, I think that's true of adults too.  We all sport an attitude, some truly Christ-like, some anything but Christ-like, with most of us somewhere in between.  Today's text speaks of an attitude of humility, something we all would do well to cultivate.  As a Christian man striving to become more Christ-like, I should consider humility and obedience as blessings to be sought from God.

          St. Paul said, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus."  Scripture tells us Jesus lived His life without sin and also with an attitude of humility.  We live in a permissive society that is more proud than humble, more disobedient than obedient.

          We have a tendency to obey things we agree with, then ignore those we find disagreeable.  Recently, I came to an intersection where they had newly installed a red left arrow that didn't make sense to me.  Few used the street and it was wide open.  So I stopped awhile, saw no one coming, and turned left on red.  That's an attitude of superiority, and also of disobedience.  It hasn't gotten me in trouble yet, but one day it may.  Others, I'm sure, have done this, but whatever other people do or don't do should not determine whether it's right or wrong for me to do it.

          Jesus had an attitude of humility.  He lived a life of daily thankfulness and obedience, something we all might try to imitate!  I can't think of any better example than the attitude of Jesus Christ.  He was loving and humble.  He was patient and kind.  He was obedient and loving.  He obeyed all the laws!  St. Paul wrote, "And being found in human form, He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross."

          We may rebel against God and human authorities and seek to do things our own way, but Jesus did things God's way, the right way.  He was born a human being, lived a perfect life, and took the place of imperfect people.  He was punished for our foolish attitudes.  He humbled Himself all the way Calvary's cross and was executed for things He didn't do.  If that doesn't seem fair, it's not, but it was all needed that we might be forgiven.  If Jesus hadn't taken our place on the cross, we'd all be in perdition, fair and square!

          I'd like to share a true story that might help us understand here.  (I must add a parenthesis here.  For all you skeptics, this story has actually been affirmed by that trusty website, "Urban Legends."  I never cease to be amazed that some folks have so much time on their hands as to be able to check out the veracity of E-mailed stories.)  Anyway, this little story was printed in that enjoyable book, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and I have condensed it for you here.

          In 1981 in Phoenix, Arizona, a 26-year-old mother stared down at her 6 year old son, who was dying of leukemia.  Although she was devastated, this single Mom was also determined.  Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up, to fulfill all his dreams.  Now this was no longer possible.  But one day she took her son's hand and said, "Billy, did you ever think about what you'd like to be when you grow up?"  Said Billy, "Mommy, I'd like to be a fireman."  Mom smiled and said, "Let's see if we can make your wish come true."

          Today is Palm Sunday, the day Jesus entered Jerusalem, a condemned man.  On the Jewish calendar, Palm Sunday was lamb selection day, when people chose the lamb to be sacrificed for the coming Passover.  On that day shepherds brought into Jerusalem the special lambs that had been nurtured and fed on the pastures of Bethlehem.  Priests selected the best ones, the healthy, spotless lambs for sacrifice.  On that same day Jesus of Nazareth, the perfect Lamb of God, entered Jerusalem, riding on a donkey to cries of honor and glory.  He was chosen to be the Lamb of God who would die for our sins, and along the way He wept for the city.  Jesus had come with an attitude of humility and obedience.

          To obey means to hear God and do what He says.  Obedience isn't merely conforming to a moral code or listening to some inner human voice.  It's listening and responding rightly to God.  But I'm not sure many of us really do that.  We may read and learn about the Bible, but we don't let it affect us.  God wants us to go beyond that, to change our very lives.

          Paul said about 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."

          Obedience is important.  Faith is most important, but obedience can't be disregarded in our relationship with God.  It comes when we have faith.  Disobedience causes big problems.  It short-circuits relationships, with God and people.  It produces pain and suffering.  It shortens lives.  Disobedience can also be a sign of weak faith.  But thanks be to God He does not abandon us when we are disobedient.  Rather, He rescues us.

          Later that day Billy's mother went to her local fire department where she met Fireman Bob.  She explained her son's wish and asked if it might be possible to give Billy a ride around the block on a fire engine.  Fireman Bob said, "We can do better than that.  If you'll have Billy ready early Wednesday morning, we'll make him an honorary fireman for the whole day.  He will be at the fire station, eat with us, go out on fire calls, everything!  And if you'll give us his sizes, we'll get a fireman's uniform for him, a real one, with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, slicker, boots and hat.  They're all made right here in Phoenix, so we can get them made real fast."

          Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his fire uniform and escorted him from his hospice bed in a hook and ladder truck.  Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station.  There were three fire calls that day and Billy went out on all three.  He sat in the different fire engines, the paramedic's van, even rode in the Fire Chief's car.  A reporter heard about it and ran a segment on him for the evening news.  This affected Billy so much that he rallied and it looked like he might live much longer than anyone thought possible.

          Dear friends, God loves His children.  He proves His love every day by forgiving us and accepting us as His own.  God often uses life's troubles to humble and teach us.  God doesn't slap us around or punish us, even though He'd have every right to do so.  Rather He forgives us, shows us through His Word how to live a better way, and He empowers us to do it right the next time.  He teaches us lessons that help develop the attitude of Christ.

          Several months ago I told a story about Ronny who wrecked his Dad's Winnebago motor home and worked three years at two jobs to repay him.  He could have walked away from his debt, but he chose to repay it.  It's easy today to walk away from debts, whether financial or moral.  Many today think legal or moral bankruptcy is the only way.  Sometimes it can be helpful, but it can also excuse us from our responsibilities.  It's easier if someone else pays our debt.  In fact, we need God to pay our sin debt, for that's the only way our account can ever be settled.

          If the debt is emotional, some people never want it paid.  They'd rather stay angry than forgive.  Or if they know they've hurt someone, they never try to make amends.  You see, the attitude of Christ involves repentance, and repentance is changing how we live.  Repentance is saying we're sorry, asking for forgiveness, then trying to do better, being more Christ-like.  The attitude of Christ means making some big changes.

          One night months later young Billy's vital signs began to drop dramatically and the Head Nurse called the family members, saying he would probably not last the night.  She also called the Fire Chief and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy in his final hours.  The chief replied, "We'll be there in five minutes.  And ma'am, when you hear the sirens and see the lights, will you please announce over the PA system that there is no fire?  It's just the Fire Department coming to see one of its finest.  And will you make sure Billy is by the window in his room?"  Minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived, sirens wailing and lights ablaze.  Firemen got out and extended the ladder up to Billy's third floor room.  Then several firefighters climbed the ladder through the window into Billy's room.  Each one hugged him and told him he loved him.  As the little boy struggled with each breath, the fire chief said, "Billy, the Head Chief Jesus is waiting for you."  Billy said, "I know," and later closed his eyes for the last time, gazing at his fellow firemen.

          King David once wrote, "Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51)   You and I need a new heart and a right spirit because so often we wreck the old ones.  We do what we shouldn't, and avoid what we should.  We get sick or we make wreckage of life.  But God is there with us through it all.  He's there to fix the broken and replace the shattered.  He's there to take away sickness and give us eternal life.  But it all takes faith, and faith always results in obedience, the attitude of Jesus Christ.

          The future of the Christian Church depends on people who trust in Jesus Christ and are willing to love God above all and love our neighbors as ourselves.  We need more servants and fewer watchdogs.  We need more loving parents and obedient children.  We need more of God and less of the world.  God grant us this for Jesus, amen

Copyright © 2005 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.