Attitude of Love

Chuckle: "Do you believe in life after death?" the boss asked a new employee. "Yes, of course sir," the employee replied. "Well then, that makes everything just fine," the boss went on. "After you left early yesterday to go to your grandmother's funeral, she stopped by to see you!"

Quote: "His love enableth me to call every country my country, and every man my brother" --Daniel Wheeler; "Spiritual Experiences of Friends."

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"Do you think you deserve credit merely for loving those who love you? Even the sinners do that" ((Luke 6:32 NLT).

Attitude is defined as, "A way of acting or behaving that shows what one is thinking or feeling" -- a loving attitude; a friendly attitude, etc. The Scriptures tell us that God is Love. Since Jesus is God incarnate, He is love, and we are told "Your attitude (mind) should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5 NIV). In other words, Christ would have us live every day with an attitude of love like His. What does such an attitude of love look like?

A Christian writer named Tertullian (160-225 AD) wrote these words: "It is our care for the helpless, our practice of lovingkindness, that brands us in the eyes of many of our opponents. 'Look!' they say. 'How they love one another! Look how they are prepared to die for one another.'" Tertullian describes an attitude of love among early Christians and emphasizes the positive impact this attitude will have on others, even those who oppose us.

Jesus set the example for us when it comes to loving people. He treated everyone with kindness and compassion. I'm sure He was aware that every person carries burdens and faces difficulties that influence the way they react. He knew they didn't need more problems and life challenges -- they needed an extra measure of love and understanding. Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28 NIV). His love was unchanging and independent of how people reacted to Him. His attitude was one of unconditional love.

A belligerent angry spirit against those who react with anger and hostility toward us does not reflect the attitude of love that Jesus modeled for us. The only effective tool we have to draw people to Christ and Christianity is the demonstrated unconditional love of Jesus Christ. Even though we cannot always understand why people react the way they do, we can still represent our Lord by being a blessing to them. Like the people described by Tertullian, they will certainly see Jesus in you if you have the attitude of love that Jesus has.

"Love of God is the root, love of our neighbor the fruit of the Tree of Life. Neither can exist without the other, but the one is cause and the other effect." --Illustrations for Biblical Preaching; Edited by Michael Green

Love, Jerry & Dotse