According to the pattern...

Part 6 - Christian character

If you are a Christian and people know about it (as they should) then they will look to see if they can find Godly attributes in your attitudes, character and actions. If they do not find them then they will be antagonistic towards people who say they are Christians because they have met so many who are highly worldly.

What should your attitude be? It should be like the attitude Christ Jesus had as described in Philippians chapter 2 verses 5 to 11 an attitude of humility, submission and obedience, which is the attitude that Christ Jesus not only had but demonstrated throughout His life on earth.

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Therefore God has highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

When Jesus was confronted with arrogance amongst His own disciples He corrected them and rebuked them for having an attitude similar to the people of the world rather than the people of God. We can see this from Mark chapter 10 where two of the disciples had asked a special favour of Jesus but had been refused. The others were angry with them for having asked such a thing from Him.

In Mark chapter 10 verses 35 to 45 we read the following: "James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would like you to do for us whatsoever we shall desire. Jesus said unto them, what would you have me do for you?

They said unto him, grant unto us to sit, one on your right hand, and the other on your left hand, in your glory. But Jesus said unto them, You do not know what you are asking: can you drink of the cup that I drink of and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

They said unto him, we can. Jesus replied, you shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized with you shall be baptized: but to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to those for whom it is prepared.

When the ten heard this, they began to be much displeased with James and John. Jesus called them to him, and said unto them, you know that those who are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

It must not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: and whosoever of you will be the chief shall be servant of all. Even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Maybe you will be put in charge of some people at work, if that is so then your attitude should be to work with them as colleagues and encourage them in all that they do for you. That way you will get more out of them. The worldly would bully the people and try to force them to raise their productivity level.

In the world today this is happening in many places. Employees are being put under so much pressure to perform that there has been a huge increase in the numbers of people going long-term sick with stress related illnesses and having nervous breakdowns as a result of the pressures that they are being put under.

The attitude of the bosses is entirely unsympathetic and all they are concerned with is getting somebody else in to do the job so that it will not affect the amount of profit they make every year. That way they can continue to have huge bonus payments at the end of the financial year and give nothing to their employees.

In John chapter 13 verses 4 to 11 we see that Jesus washed the feet of His disciples in the upper room after the Feast of the Passover. This is a job that should have been done by the meanest slave of the house when the guests arrive, one by one the slave will wash their feet, not wait until they have all arrived and then do it.

Jesus rose from supper, and laid aside his garments; took a towel and girded himself. After that He poured water into a bason and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel He had round Him.

When He came to Simon Peter: Peter said unto him, Lord, do you wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, what I do you do not realise now; but you will realise later. Peter said unto Him, you shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, if I do not, you can have no part with me.

Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus said to him, he who has bathed needs no further washing except for his feet, but is clean every where: and you are clean, but not every one of you. Jesus knew who was to betray him; that is why He said you are not all clean."

We must be careful that we do not get involved in worldly affairs or if we are found out in this area we will be called hypocrites and bring disgrace on Christianity as well as embarrassing yourself and Christ Jesus. A true Christian should avoid all things that do not contribute to the glorifying of God.

In Galatians chapter 5 verses 17 to 23 Paul lists the things to be avoided and the things to be worked towards by every Christian. The flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you use to. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelling and such like: of which I tell you now, as I have also told you in time past, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Temperance means not getting drunk, it does not mean being tee-total. If you do these things it will be easy for unbelievers to see the difference between your life-style and the world's.

This way you will have made an impact on the unbeliever who may very well ask you for the reason that your life-style is so different to the life-style of the people in the world, then you will have an open invitation to briefly outline the gospel to them, an opportunity you may never have had amongst your work colleagues otherwise.

This way also you will be pleasing to Christ Jesus our Lord who sacrificed Himself in order to show the world that there is a different and much better way of living. Always where possible be cheerful and give thanks for your salvation, there are so many in the world who are miserable and bad tempered, the contrast you show will also make an impression on others whether those people admit it According to the pattern

read part 7...