An attitude is, “A complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways”, WordWeb.
Describe your attitude. What are your thoughts? What are your actions? What do they say about you?
What things affect your attitude? How does your attitude affect your behavior?
Our conduct or behavior is a result of who we worship, who we love, who we honor, or who we admire. Largely, the way we act towards others, reflects what we think of ourselves. If we think highly of ourselves, we will think less of others. We will be focused on what others are doing wrong or not doing right or how they have offended us, rather than on how Christ would have us serve. On the other hand, when we are humble, others are lifted higher. We will automatically be an encourager and not think of ourselves as a victim, blaming others for our dissatisfaction. We will extend grace towards others just as God has extended His grace towards us.
Consider the purpose of every decision you make, and every word you speak. Look at who benefits, what your goals are, and who is honored. Think about the focus of your pursuits, the way you spend your time and resources, and what you hope to accomplish. Our behavior – the things attributed to how we act – is a picture of our character.
We have been redeemed by Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, who willingly became the sacrifice for our sin. Perfect and spotless, Jesus suffered and died to take our penalty upon His body. He not only paid the ultimate price for our sin, but also secured heaven as our inheritance.
Because of who God is, and because of what He has done, we are to seek to be holy as He is holy. This means we choose to die to self, no longer living for worldly acknowledgement and pleasures. Instead, we live in Christ, desiring to be like Him. Our purpose is to exalt His name; our lives are driven by His love for us and our reverence of Him. In the following verses, Peter continues to lay out the reason to strive towards holiness as he reminds his readers of what has been accomplished for their sake. We are called to holiness and these instructions are for our benefit also.
1Peter 1:20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you
Jesus was foreknown before the foundation of the world.
Romans 16:25-26 “Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith”.
Christ was always the plan for mankind’s redemption, even before the world existed. Albert Barnes’ NT Commentary says, it was “predetermined that He should be the great atoning Sacrifice for sin”. The Brethren NT Commentary states, “The fact that the Word existed in the glory, love and knowledge of the Father even before the creation of the material world … this is the providence of God”.
It is incredible to think that God, in His perfect love for mankind, had already planned for His Son to be the atoning Sacrifice for our sin.
John 17:5 "And now, glorify Thou Me together with Thyself, Father, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was”.
God, in His perfect knowledge, chose to fix mankind’s problem of sin before man even existed. God is eternal; He has no beginning; He always has been – and He loves us enough to go to extreme measure to have a relationship with us. Therefore, be holy in your walk because of what He has done.
Ephesians 1:3-6 “Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved”.
Proverbs 8:23 “I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was”. KJV
We are to strive to be holy – not based on others’ actions or lack thereof – but based on Christ’s atoning sacrifice for our sin and the gift of eternal life we now possess.
What does this mean for you? How can you apply this truth?
Jesus was manifest for our sake.
Romans 16:25-26 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, [leading] to obedience of faith.
To ‘establish’ us means to turn resolutely in a certain direction, to confirm. Jesus was purposed by God to turn us toward Himself, to confirm our standing in His holy presence. Read Paul’s address to Titus:
Titus 1:1-3 Paul, a bond-servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, but at the proper time manifested, [even] His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior.
Jesus has always been. He appeared at the perfect time – for all mankind. God purposefully sent Jesus to die – for your benefit. The end of verse 20 says ‘for the sake of you’. There is a reason Christ died. Through His death we are reconciled to God. God’s interest in mankind was resolved in Jesus Christ.
Does your attitude reflect your worship of Jesus?
