Attitudes in Following Jesus

This is a great segment from Phillip Keller’s “A Shepherd Looks at Psalms 23″ – which is a must read for christians.

“Jesus never made light of the cost involved in following Him.  In fact He made it painfully clear that it was a rugged life of rigid self-denial. It entailed a whole new set of attitudes. It was not the natural, normal way a person would ordinarily live and this is what made the price so prohibitive to most people.

In brief, seven fresh attitudes have to be acquired. They are the equivalent of progressive forward movements onto new ground with God.

1. Instead of loving myself most I am willing to love Christ best and others more than myself.

2. Instead of being one of the crowd I am willing to be singled out, set apart from the gang.

3. Instead of insisting on my rights I am willing to forego them in favor of others.

4. Instead of being “boss” I am willing to be at the bottom of the heap.  Or to use sheep terminology, instead of being “Top Ram” I’m willing to be a “tail-ender”.

5. Instead of finding fault with life and always asking “Why?” I am willing to accept every circumstance of life in an attitude of gratitude.

6. Instead of exercising and asserting my will, I learn to cooperate with His wishes and comply with His will.

7. Instead of choosing my own way I am willing to choose to follow in Christ’s way: simply to do what He asks me to do.”

Chew on that for a while.

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