Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today let’s examine Christ’s standard for living.

Today’s scripture, Romans 15:51-‬7 (NLT), exhorts…
We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.” Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.

Consider…
There’s a song in the movie Dreamgirls titled, “Family”. It begins…

[Intro: Effie (C.C. spoken)]
What about what I need?
(Curtis says it’s the best thing for the group)
What about what’s best for me?
(He feels the Dreams can cross over)
What about how I feel?
(But when we’re famous, I’ll write great things for ya. Effie, do it for me)
What about me? What about me?

[Verse 1: C. C.]
It’s more than you. It is more than me
No matter what we are, we are a family
This dream is for all of us
This one can be real
And you can’t stop us now
Because of how you feel

Effie’s self-centered attitude reflects the attitude of most humans, including Christ followers. It’s natural to want life your way, but that’s opposite of Christ’s way of living.

Philippians 2:5‭-‬8 (NLT) tells us…
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

This scripture gives us a handful of Christ-like attitudes we should adopt.

The first attitude adjustment we can learn from Christ is giving up divine privileges. As I write that, it occurs to me one of the mistakes people make is they confuse divine privileges with human entitlements or rights. So let’s define these terms to help align our life perspective with Christ’s.

Oxford Languages defines a PRIVILEGE as a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group.

It defines a RIGHT as a moral or legal entitlement to have or obtain something or to act in a certain way.

And OL defines an ENTITLEMENT as the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment.

Reading these definitions makes me believe that we fixate on our rights and entitlements as humans because we deem ourselves worthy or deserving of God’s best based on who we are or what we do. But Ephesians 2:3 (ERV) explains what we really deserve. It says…
In the past all of us lived like that, trying to please our sinful selves. We did all the things our bodies and minds wanted. Like everyone else in the world, we deserved to suffer God’s anger just because of the way we were.

To be clear, we deserve God’s anger!

Which brings us to the privilege definition. God has granted us immunity through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:4‭-‬5 (ERV) explains…
But God is rich in mercy, and he loved us very much. We were spiritually dead because of all we had done against him. But he gave us new life together with Christ. (You have been saved by God’s grace.)

So the very first attitude adjustment we need to make us to recognize God’s grace is a divine privilege granted to us by Him.

Speaking of God’s grace, James 1:16‭-‬18 (NLT) admonishes us to recognize where our blessings come from…
So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

We’re special to God, because He deemed us to be!

I found it interesting that James’ very next verse is…
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. – James 1:19 NLT

Because God is so gracious to us, we ought to extend His same grace to others.

My last point on having Christ attitude on our divine privileges is found in 1 Corinthians 10:23‭-‬24 (NLT). Paul admonishes…
You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.

Christ attitude was to use His privileges to help others share in them.

God blesses us so we can be His blessing that draws others to Him.

The second attitude adjustment we can learn from Christ is humbling ourselves. As I write this, it strikes me that there’s a difference between being humble and humbling ourselves. Being humble is not having an elevated self-worth, whereas humbling yourself is elevating the worth of others. Because Christ humbled Himself we’ve been elevated…

• From enemies to friends of God
• From children of the devil to children of God
• From Judged to Justified by God
• From dead in our sin to alive in Christ’s righteousness
• From separated from to Sanctified by God
• From lost to redeemed
  …feel free to keep going

A Christ-like attitude isn’t just about lowering yourself, it’s focuses on elevating others to Him.

Our third attitude adjustment is a continuation from yesterday. Recall we looked at Christ’s Stop, Engage, and Address (SEA) response to others who are begging to be served. Well I submit when Jesus became human He

• Stopped His divinity
• Engaged our humanity
• To Address God’s sin penalty

Hebrews 2:14 (NLT) explains…
Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.

Christ identified with us in order to adequately help us. We need to identify with others before truly helping them. When we empathize with others we can better realize what their struggle is and how to fully address their needs.

A fourth attitude adjustment we can learn from Christ is living a life of obedience to God. The passage said…
he humbled himself in obedience to God

If we do everything God’s way, we will treat others with His rich mercy and love. Indeed, obeying God will lead to a life of extending His grace. That’s because obedience focuses on doing the will of the one being obeyed rather than the person obeying. Christ showed this when He said…
For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. – John 6:38 NLT

Jesus’ words tell us that obeying God should be our soul purpose for living!

Moreover, Jesus points out obedience is a requirement for eternal life…
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. – Matthew 7:21 NLT

Christ’s attitude of obedience to His Father in Heaven guided everything He did in His journey here on earth. That’s the standard we should live by too!

Which brings us to our fifth and final attitude adjustment, which is dying to self so that others can find life in Christ. We know that Christ died for us, but I don’t think we fully appreciate that we’re expected to follow His example and give up our lives for others. 1 John 3:16‭-‬18 (NLT) explains…
We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

It’s easy to celebrate all that Christ has done for us, but don’t forget we’re expected to be like Him. Romans 8:29 (NLT)
states…
For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

God wants us to look up to and emulate our Big Brother Jesus Christ in the way we live. It makes total sense, because Jesus was a perfect child!

So today, as you consider how to live with others, remember today’s scripture and attitude of Christ. Then…

• We must not just please ourselves.
• We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.
• Live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus
• Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.

Live like Christ, which is by selflessly and sacrificially loving others.

Today’s song is…
Just Like You Jesus

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)