Measuring Our Heart for Action

[HKHaugan]

Attitude is how we measure the heart. Attitude spells out where we are as we relate to others. The question for disciples of Jesus is “What is my attitude as I start my day?” This is a subject that needs attention because so much of our relational experience has been influenced by what we have depended on from our world conditioning as we adjust to others. And therein lies the problem, dependency. Upon what do we depend as we move from one person to another, one circumstance to another and one choice to another? No, I'm not into constant self-analysis here. That's like spinning your wheels on an oil slick. The real issue for each of us is when push comes to shove and the chips are down upon what is our reaction based and why? What is our heart's condition? Is it free to look forward, dependent on Jesus and being faithful as we go?

You're in a store, you need help finding a product and you see an employee so you walk over hoping to get a direction. The employee says something like, “It's right there in front of you” and just walks away. What is your reaction? If you see what's happening here there are two attitudes at work, yours and the employee's. Do you think to yourself and conclude, “What a rude person” and just move on or are you angered and ready to call the manager? Or is there a third possibility? Could we stop for a moment and consider the presence of the Lord? He knows the employee and you are images and likenesses of God and both need prayer. Maybe on our part something like,”O Lord forgive me my first inclination to be offended and angry rather than realizing that the employee is in need and I am in need of your guidance to follow up on that person. Something is going on in that person's life that needs prayer. Help me to know the course I need to take. Thank you Lord.” Or conversely, it may be necessary to report the matter for the sake of that person who really needs to understand customer service. “Thank you Lord” as well. Notice it is not a clear path and in most cases never is. You can substitute any of your own confrontational moments and questions at this point.

The issue is not what is the best response. For a disciple of Jesus it is not a matter of 'what' but 'who.' Who do I depend on in those dicey unexpected moments? The reality of any situation demands the spiritually led way to respond. I say 'spiritually led' because that's what relational living is all about. Our attitude is dependent on the One who created our heart's attitudinal ability. Our attitude is what shapes our witness. Attitude is our heart at work. And attitude shaped by what you glean from the past is loaded with the anxieties shaped by fear and pride that escape a helpful response. Thus worldly response is a past response that usually denies, withdraws and avoids reality. And that is where past experience will leave you, in the past and alone. But reality is this, no experience is ever the same and it is the present moment that requires the unique response only a spiritually led truth can bring.

Paul's insight is really helpful here. “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 (Php.2:5-8 NIV).” The Greek word for attitude is 'phroneite.' It also is translated 'to think (KJV)' and 'mindset.' So when we start to think, to set our mind, it is the attitude of putting Jesus first before there is a response. It is the practice of humility, of leaving pride and fear behind and giving the floor to the Lord. This gives the Holy Spirit room to work in us to apprehend what is really taking place spiritually and bring the Lord's presence to bear on where you are and what you are thinking.

Again, our example is the Lord Jesus. He was totally dependent on His Father's will and Word for every next moment and His responses were al unique and what was necessary for that unique person in that unique moment. It is the Father's will for us to place our complete dependency on His Son for the unique responses only we can give in the unique time we are given (Mt.17:5). This means also that through this dependency we are building trust for our heart to respond more like Jesus trusted. This is being a disciple in heart as well as mind. What we are saying here is that trust is the attitude. So we might even conclude with Paul in Php.2:5 and offer this parallel, “Your trust should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” This is how the Holy Spirit builds in us the attitude of dependency through consciously trusting the presence of the risen Lord.

As it was getting dark Jesus and the disciples were caught in the wilderness surrounded by a crowd of people. The disciples were obviously still very much conditioned by the world and quick to advise Jesus that He should send them all away to a town to get food. But He tells them that wasn't necessary that the disciples should use what was available and feed them. Their focus was on the smallest amount of food, five loaves and two fish. How could that possibly work? Jesus demonstrated something really unique here. He took what was available, multiplied it and gave it to the disciples to spread among the crowd. It was a unique moment. All were fed and there was more than enough left over left over and there is more to this than just the miracle of the loaves and fish. Our moments are unique as well. Shown here are three basic principles for our personal and unique witness as disciples.

First, be dependent on the will of Jesus like Jesus was on His Father.
Second, determine what the situation is and use what is available.
Third, stay open to the power and leading of the Holy Spirit.

Peter knew these three steps well. On the way to worship he and John ran into a man crippled from birth. It was a unique moment. He said, “Silver and gold I do not have but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk (Acts 3:6).” He was dependent on the presence of Jesus, he determined the physical problem and then he trusted his spiritual resource, the Holy Spirit. The man unable to walk was made able. So as we encounter people who are incapable of walking emotionally, spiritually locked in some invisible stronghold that is keeping them attitudinally bound, how can we let them see the power of Jesus to free them to walk confidently in Him? They are our unique moments. This is discipleship in a nutshell.

What we are called to do is to take into consideration not only the physical needs but the spiritual and emotional needs as well. What the miracle of leaves and fishes really centers on is the call to trust and follow the Spirit's leading. Whatever the situation in which we find ourselves, what is it's spiritual nature? What is the emotional need expressed? What physical thing can be done to meet the need? There is always more that can be discerned, analyzed and given. It is being aware of this expanded view in Jesus' calling. It takes an attitude of looking forward and an attitude of dependency which is the 'Jesus-way,' to be the kind of disciple He is looking for. Freeing up our attitude frees us to be a witness. And by the way, this is how we take up our cross and follow Him.