Hosanna Restoration Church

I think it would safe to say that Jesus always operated with a tender and sympathetic heart. His heart always longed for God to be glorified. We know from verse 13 that God is working in us to get us to this place, but we also know from our own attitudes that we are not there yet.

I have to admit that there are many times when I look into the mirror of God’s word seeing that I am so far from where I need to be that I wonder how God puts up with me. This particular verse has recently become a focus for my life.

It is possible to disagree and do it with a tender sympathetic heart. It is possible for a parent to discipline a child with a tender sympathetic heart. It is possible to face every circumstance this way, but we will have to work at it. We have to work at it because God commands it. We cannot ignore what God wants and expect to maintain our peace and comfort. Just like I cannot ignore God’s command to love my wife and think that I am going to receive the benefits of walking in love. It just will not work.

The Holy Spirit goes on to tell us that our attitude should be the same one that Christ Jesus had. You know in all His trials He never took on the attitude of a victim. We should do the same. He was always the victor. He always had the upper hand, because He knew what pleased God. We can have that too. We can stand with confidence when we know that we have acted according to the Word of God.

When we stand before God we are not going to get great accolades for the things that were easy to do. The things that most honor God are the hard things. The times when it looked bad, but we stood strong trusting God will be the things that cause men to look and to glorify God because of what they see. Those are the things that cause heaven to rejoice.

Sometimes we just need to take the time to do a heart check. Paul said that he did not trust himself to do the examination. He relied on the Holy Spirit to let Him know how he was doing. But even then he did not revel in a good report, nor wallow in a bad one. He forgot what was behind and pressed on to what was ahead.

If we are going to walk in the encouragement, comfort, and fellowship of the Holy Spirit, then we are going to have to take on the same attitude Christ had. There is no way we can do it in our own power. That is why the Holy Spirit gives us the power to do what pleases God. As David said, search me oh God and know my ways try me and know my thoughts…lead me in the way that is everlasting.