Romans 15:5-7

Everyone has an attitude.  However, our attitudes are always changing depending upon the circumstances.  An attitude is a predisposition or tendency to respond positively or negatively towards certain ideas, objects, persons or situation.  Our attitude influences our choices and actions in response to almost everything that happens in our life.  There are four major components to our attitude.  Our attitude is a combination of how we feel, what we believe, how inclined we are to act and whether we are positive or negative.

Paul says we need God to give us the attitude of Christ. If we ask it God will do it, but we need to know what we are asking for.

We are asking to feel as Christ felt.  When Christ looked at a sinner, he felt compassion; he hurt for them.  He felt great sorrow because he knew the price their sin was going to cost.  When Christ looked at his disciples, he felt great love, and at the same time, He shared in their coming joys and sorrows.

We are asking God to teach us to believe what Christ believed.  When he saw sinners, he believed they were redeemable and that they were worth His life.  When he looked at his followers, he believed that each day was an opportunity and that they would seize it.  He believed his church would prove faithful and would be a blessing to the whole world.  He knew that they were not perfect, but he believed that as they lived righteous his father would be perfecting them.

We are asking God to give us an opportunity to act as Christ acted.  When sin made the situation appear hopeless, Christ sacrificed his all.  He was willing to give his life because he was positive that his father would make it all right in the end.  If that it is what we want, we should ask. God will give us the attitude of Christ, and it will change us.  It will unify us together in one mind with Him.