Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
How would you define the word attitude? Wikipedia calls it “a psychological construct, a mental and emotional entity that…characterizes a person….It is an individual’s predisposed state of mind.”
The real question isn’t how we define the word attitude, but how our attitudes are defining us. The Bible tells us that Christ wants us to be defined by His attitudes. Philippians 2:5 says, “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had” (NLT).
Let’s take that a step further. Isn’t that the true implication of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23? Maybe we could paraphrase it like this: “As you grow in Christ, the Holy Spirit will produce in you the very attitudes—the predisposed state of mind—of Jesus Himself, which is more love, more joy, more peace, more patience, more kindness, more goodness, more faithfulness, more gentleness, and more self-control.”
Our attitude is important when it comes to our heart of obedience to the Father. If you have some unhealthy attitudes today, ask God to replace them with those of Jesus. (David Jeremiah)
